My graduation day

I was all smiles on 20th Jan 2010. The peak of my excitement was the time we were leading the procession. This was on my graduation day at Makerere University. We gathered at our Department and after we moved on to the main hall to pick the Chancellor with the whole procession. Amidst singing, dancing and ululation, we marched  through all the tents until the Chancellor was in his tent. We remained standing for the anthems and i just felt like i was back at campus especially during those days when we sang the anthems before we started our practical exams in people's theatre.

With a clear view of what was going on having been seated in the tent of the entertainers from MDD Department and the brass band, speeches were made. The time for the names came and i could not wait for the time my name was read. Within a few minutes, it was our turn. I was seated with Vicky my long time galfriend and we could not resist the temptation of whispering to each other what was going on in our lives since we had not seen each other since the course had ended.

Like every one else, after you have heard your name, everything starts getting boring. My mind at that time shifted to the venue of my graduation dinner. I was finding out about this and the other, praying for the success of my dinner and binding the rain seriously since my dinner was going to be in the open.

I had left my mum and my eldest brother in the que of entering while i rushed to find the pprocession so i didnt know where they were seated. I struggled to look for them until i finally was able to see them. We posed in front of the camera with all smiles coz the first battle was over.

My mum

At around noon, the function ended and we thought we would get our transcripts right away. That was not possible so we had to wait for two hours until 2.00pm when they would be issued. It was just too hot for us and we rested under a tree as we waited for the time of my transcript. Like it has always been, the notes on the notice boards showing where to pick one's transcript from were not helpful because they had been interchanged and you would get to know where the person with your transcrip was after these "barking chics" would tell you where. Finally i have it and it clearly indicates that am male, a mistake i was not amused about.

That is all over and we are now at the dinner venue. It is amazingly hot and we canot sit until the sun sets. We look for a shade and we chat as people come one by one. At the end of it all, it is dark and every thing is fine. At the high table i sit with my mother, brother, boss and my three lecturers headed by my head of department and it is so exciting. My family members and friends are all around and the party goes on.

Speeches are made and gifts [my favorite part of the party] are brought to me and i just cant carry them all. My sisters put them in the car and we set off for home. Am just too tired to do anything but very excited.

First thing in the morning at around 6.00am, am opening the gifts to see what i was given. O, am just like all smiles because the gifts were amazing. That is how my garduation day was.