Minister Tumwebaze among Makerere graduands

The minister of ICT and national guidance, Frank Tumwebaze, was today among the 13,000 students who graduated from Makerere University during the institution's 69th graduation ceremony.

Tumwebaze graduated with a master's degree in public health. He also holds a degree in education from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology as well as a master's degree in international and diplomatic studies from Makerere University.

Tumwebaze speaks to the media during the ceremony. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

"Glad to have completed this master's degree in public health. The pursuit for knowledge should be a continuous process so as to improve the quality of one's understanding and shape his or her world view," Tumwebaze said.

In his message, the minister noted that he pursued the course to particularly help himself understand the whole spectrum of the social determinants of health and what factors explain the disease burden in our communities.

"The heavy disease burden in our communities is not only explained by clinical factors but by a range of social-economic and political factors that policy makers need to be aware of and therefore design sound interventions/policies anchored on the basis of evidence and more research evidence," he said.

President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni arrive for the ceremony. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

President Yoweri Museveni who was in attendance with the First Lady and mister for education and sports, Janet Museveni, presided over the graduation ceremony.

Museveni who also received a scholarly authorship award for authoring the first Runyankole-Rukiga thesaurus titled 'Katondozi', addressed the university authorities for their resolute approach to solving issues.

"I want to congratulate Prof. Nawangwe (vice chancellor) and his team upon being decisive on disciplining students, lecturers and other staff in Makerere. A lecturer caught on camera in immorality and sexually harassing a student cannot stay in a top university," he said.

Makerere University chancellor Prof. Ezra Suruma. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

"It is very embarrassing to hear that a lecturer is in court for raping a person and he is still teaching. We don't want cheating, we don't want decadence in Makerere," the President added.