Soroti University has officially announced 13th December 2025 as the date for its Maiden Graduation Ceremony, a defining moment in the institution’s steady rise as one of Uganda’s emerging centres of academic excellence.
The ceremony will be held at the university’s main campus in Arapai, Soroti City, where hundreds of invited guests, parents, guardians, and higher education stakeholders are expected to gather and celebrate the university’s first cohort of graduates.
The event holds deep significance for the young public institution, which admitted its pioneer class in the 2019/2020 academic year.
After years of rigorous study, practical training, online learning disruptions due to Covid-19, and resilience from both staff and students, Soroti University will now confer degrees upon 118 students across three academic programmes.
According to the official graduation list, 53 students will receive the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), 42 students will graduate with the Bachelor of Nursing Sciences, and 22 students will be conferred with the Bachelor of Engineering in Computer and Electronics Engineering.
Of the 118 graduands, 39 are females and 78 are males, an indication of growing gender representation in the science and health-related programmes offered by the university.
In a rare and emotional gesture, the university will also award a posthumous degree in Medicine and Surgery to the late Odukatum Polycarp Okiror, one of the pioneer MBChB students who passed away on August 16, 2025.
The posthumous recognition is expected to be one of the solemn highlights of the ceremony, honoring Polycarp’s academic journey and contribution to the maiden class.
The President of the Republic of Uganda is expected to preside over the ceremony as the Guest of Honour, underscoring the national importance placed on the institution’s progress and the critical role Soroti University is expected to play in producing skilled health and technology professionals.
Prof. John Robert Ikoja, the Vice Chancellor of Soroti University, described the upcoming ceremony as a “historic accomplishment” for both the institution and the nation.
He emphasized that the graduation is a culmination of the institution’s mission to train practical, competent, and community-responsive professionals.
“This is a proud moment not only for Soroti University but for the entire country,” Prof. Ikoja said.
“Our graduands represent the university’s commitment to contributing to Uganda’s professional and human-resource base. Their academic journey symbolizes resilience, focus, and the dedication of our staff and the entire university community.”
Mr. James Gregory Okello, the Academic Registrar, reaffirmed the significance of the event, noting that the graduates come from the pioneer MBChB class of 2019/2020, the 2021 cohort of Bachelor of Nursing Sciences, and the 2020 intake of Bachelor of Computer and Electronics Engineering.
He said all necessary academic processes and clearances were being finalized to ensure a smooth ceremony.
Preparations for the day are in high gear, with various organizing committees already coordinating logistics, guest management, and programme structure.
The university has also released detailed guidelines to graduands regarding academic clearance, gown issuance, fees payment, and rehearsal schedules.
Parents, guardians, government officials, development partners, and members of the general public have been invited to join the university in celebrating what many describe as a turning point for higher education in Eastern Uganda.
Since opening its doors in 2019, Soroti University has steadily positioned itself as a strategic institution for training health and technology professionals.
It initially began with two programmes under the School of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Nursing Sciences.
In January 2020, the university expanded its offerings when it admitted the first cohort of Bachelor of Computer and Electronics Engineering under the School of Science and Technology.
The institution’s early years were, however, significantly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and the nationwide lockdowns that followed.
The pandemic forced the university to adopt blended online learning, restructuring academic calendars and stretching completion timelines.
Despite these challenges, the upcoming graduation stands as proof of the university’s resilience, adaptability, and commitment to sustaining quality education.
The 13th December ceremony will not only mark the end of an academic journey for the pioneer class but will also signal the beginning of a new chapter for the university, one defined by continuous growth, national relevance, and a strengthened mandate to serve communities through training, research, and innovation.
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