A noticeable decline in the number of male students graduating from Makerere University has raised concerns, prompting comments from the Minister of Education and Sports, Ms. Janet Museveni. Out of the total 12,913 students set to graduate during the ongoing 74th graduation ceremony, 6,816 are female, while 6,097 are male.
During the 73rd graduation, the trend continued, with 52 percent female graduates (6,809) and 48 percent male graduates (6,412). Minister Janet Museveni expressed her observations during the 74th graduation ceremony, emphasizing the need for the university to address the declining number of male graduands.
Ms. Museveni, who is also the First Lady, suggested that the university should investigate the trend, stating that it is evident across all educational levels. She expressed her concerns about the issue, indicating a rich area for research at the university.
In an interview, Prof Buyinza Mukadasi, the Makerere University academic registrar, suggested that male students might be engaged in informal jobs such as riding boda bodas during school hours. Dr. Ivan Lukanda, a lecturer at the institution’s department of Journalism and Communication, attributed the trend to economic issues, suggesting the need for a national education system that caters to working students.
Prof Ndebeesa Mwambutsya, a Makerere University historian, highlighted that some sponsorships favor girls more than boys, contributing to the decrease in the number of boys graduating. He also mentioned the 1.5 cut-off point system, which directs students toward professional courses, many of which are government-sponsored and may leave boys to self-finance.
Despite concerns about gender disparities, Prof Mwambutsya noted that the large number of female graduates reflects the general population of the country, as indicated by the 2014 Uganda Bureau of Statistics report, where the female population stands at 51.21 percent compared to 48.79 percent for males.
