Male Graduands Outnumber Females at Makerere University’s 76th Graduation

At its 76th graduation ceremony, Makerere University had a reversal in gender trends, with male graduands outnumbering female graduands for the first time in nine years. 

By the close of the week, 9,295 students will have received degrees and diplomas, including 5,033 males (54%) and 4,262 females (46%).

“This is the first time, Mr. Chancellor, that we are having more male graduands than female graduands in 15 years,” Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor, announced, drawing cheers from sections of the audience.

While the Vice Chancellor placed this at 15 years, a review of university records shows that a similar outcome occurred in 2017 during the 67th graduation ceremony. That year, 14,897 students graduated, of whom 54.1 percent were male, and 45.9 percent were female.

Despite the discrepancy in the Vice Chancellor’s reference to the number of years, records show that for several years, Makerere University has consistently produced more female graduates than male graduates.

Data from recent ceremonies shows a steady rise in female representation. In 2018, women accounted for 50.6 percent of graduates, compared to 49.4 percent of men. 

In 2019, the split stood at 50.3 percent female and 49.7 percent male. In 2020, women again made up 50.5 percent. By 2021, the figure rose to 51 percent, and in both 2022 and 2023, women reached 52 percent. The peak came in 2024 and 2025, when female graduates hit 53 percent, while males dropped to 47 percent.

The latest reversal has revived debate on gender parity in higher education. Some commentators point to emerging challenges facing the boy child at the university level, including retention and completion rates.    

Historically, far fewer girls accessed formal education in Uganda, and even fewer reached university. To address this imbalance, the government introduced targeted interventions, including the affirmative action policy that awards an additional 1.5 points to female applicants during university admissions.

The policy aimed to correct structural barriers that had limited female participation in higher education.

At Makerere University, the impact has been visible in enrollment and graduation trends over the past decade, where female participation rose steadily and, until this year, consistently outpaced that of males.

Eric Joseph Sakwa, former Jinja Resident District Commissioner and one of the graduands, said male students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels face distinct challenges that hinder progression to completion and limit transition to higher levels of study. He argued that these barriers deserve closer policy attention.

Another graduand, Moses Kigeda, observed that existing interventions such as affirmative action have largely favoured female students, a move he said was justified by historical inequalities. 

He added that with gender parity narrowing in enrolment and graduation figures, the government should review the policy framework and shift toward support measures that target disadvantaged students regardless of gender.

Ann Kirabo, one of the female graduands, said the challenges students face at university cut across gender. She noted that in the final year, many finalists, especially female students, struggle with tuition and other financial obligations, which affects attendance and completion.

She added that some female students also face interruptions due to pregnancy, leading to deferred studies or withdrawal. 

At the same time, she attributed the higher number of female graduates in recent years to the broader gender parity now visible across the education system, where girls’ access and retention have improved from primary through tertiary levels.

Beyond the gender trends, this year’s graduation also reflects a rise in postgraduate output, aligning with Makerere University’s strategic push toward strengthening postgraduate training and research.

“This is indeed historic and in line with our strategic direction of a research-led and research-intensive university,” Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said, smiling as he spoke. He noted that postgraduate graduands now account for 31.4 percent of the total graduating class.

By the end of the week, 213 graduands will have received PhDs, the highest number in the university’s history. In addition, 2,503 students will graduate with Master’s degrees, while 206 will receive postgraduate diplomas.  

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