At least 13,509 graduands are expected to leave Makerere university with Degrees, Diplomas, Masters and others Doctorates as the campus hholds it's 70th graduation ceremony.
However, the date of at least 6000 students whose gowns have not been secured remains in balance.
Last week, the university announced receival of 6383 gowns and arrival of the consignment was confirmed by the Academic Registrar Alfred Masikye Namoah. Rumor should later spread like wild fire on social media, that the gowns were made in China.
This forced the university on Friday to write to Steven Kasumba the Director Ms Team Uniform Limited over what they termed as breach of contract.
In a letter titled; Breach of Contract; Ref Number MAK/SPLS/2015-16/00030-Delayed delivery of Gowns, Hoods and Caps for the 70th Graduation, it is indicated that the university contracted Ms Uniform Limited in February 2017 to supply and sale graduation gowns.
However, the university was surprised to hear that the gowns were being imported from China and at a later time than that earlier agreed upon. They demanded that all gowns be delivered by close of business on Friday 10th January 2020.
By end of last week, only 6383 gowns, 900 caps and 6792 hoods had been received. The university would later issue another statement on Sunday, indicating that the company had failed to deliver all gowns and that measures were being taken to ensure that all graduands were covered by the time they graduate this week.
"The official supplier of the 70th graduation (14th-17th January 2020 informed management at the last minute that he was experiencing challenges supplying all graduation gowns on time. His actions are a breach of contract" part of the letter reads.
The letter signed by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nwangwe adds that the University has put in place measures to ensure that gowns for all graduands are ready in time for graduation ceremony.
By Sunday afternoon, all graduands for 14th and 15th events had started receiving their gowns, while graduands from MUBS are to start picking theirs today by 2PM.
The rest of graduands will collect their gowns according to a schedule to be released by the Academic Registrar later today.
Nawangwe further confirmed that the graduation ceremony will take place starting tomorrow Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th January 2020 as earlier scheduled.
The scandal has left many students and parents in panic, with some thinking they may have to show up for the ceremony without gowns despite having paid Shs 98000. It remains unclear where the university management has procured the remaining gowns, but many graduands are just hopeful that they receive them.
