Makerere runs out graduation gowns forcing Wandegeya tailors to double prices

Makerere University has run out of customized graduation gowns ahead of the 67th graduation ceremony that starts tomorrow.

The customised graduation gowns were unveiled last month and were being sold at Basement Store of Makerere University Senate Building. The university had set the price at shillings 75,000 but tailors in Wandegeya, a city suburb, who counterfeited it had set their price at 65,000 to attract buyers.

However, today morning the university store ran out of gowns, prompting Wandegeya tailors to double the price to make a fortune out of the crisis. At stalls where the gowns are being sold, the prices range from between 120,000 and 150,000 shillings.

By 4:00pm, students were also stilling crowded at the Senate Basement Building store waiting for the university authorities to bring in new stock.

The university will graduate 14,895 students in various disciplines and varying academic ranging from diplomas to degrees, masters and PhD, in the four-day event. Of these, 3,275 will get their first degrees in various disciplines, 268 will walk home with diplomas, 1,277 students will be graduating with Masters Degrees while 75 students will be graduating with PhDs.

Tomorrow, the first graduation day, students from four colleges are set to graduate. These are; College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), and College of Education and External Studies (CEES).

"The university knew the number of students who are graduating and they had time to stock enough gowns; why didn't they do that? They are causing this entire crisis," Lukyamuzi David, a bachelor of education (Arts) student who will be graduating tomorrow said as he waited for new stock.

Keishe Agaba, a student population studies said; "I cannot buy a gown at 150,000 shillings. I will come without a gown, sit in the freedom square with others because no one will chase me."

Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the deputy vice chancellor in charge of finance and administration, said they expected the shortage because the contractor did not make enough gowns. He explained that the contractor was given a go ahead late and students had been informed that they could still buy gowns from outside as it has been the practice in previous years.

Prof Nawangwe said the contractor made about 7,000 gowns which is less than half of the number of students graduating.

"This is the first time that the university is making customised gowns. Next year he will start earlier to ensure that enough gowns are made. We want students to buy from one person because we want to control the quality of gowns," Prof Nawangwe said.

The Makerere University Council, the university's highest decision-making body approved the introduction of customised graduation gowns for Undergraduate and Graduate programmes (excluding PhDs) with effect from the 67th Graduation Ceremony.

The customised University Gown is intended to provide uniformity of the academic dress for graduands.

-URN