In 2013, the MasterCard Foundation partnered with Makerere University to offer 1,000 scholarships to disadvantaged youth from the African continent through a programme that run between 2013 and 2023, where students are provided with all the necessary requirements, such as tuition, laptops and complementary payments like allowances, insurance, free counselling programmes and travel to other countries. So far, 550 students have benefited from the programme, while another 450 shall be admitted to the university in the subsequent academic years.
“I thank MasterCard Foundation for offering scholarships worth $21b (about sh77b) to enable young people access quality higher education at Makerere University over the next ten years,” Dr. Umar Kakumba, the deputy vice chancellor in charge of academic affairs, said at the function. The programme has benefited youth from various countries, such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan.
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Kakumba urged the graduates to play a role in mentoring others outside the university boundaries, saying the university has good expectations from them. Dr. Codou Diaw, the foundation’s regional programme coordinator, said the achievement was only the beginning of a life full of opportunities, hope, dreams and plans. “With this academic achievement comes a lot of responsibility to succeed. Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired at the university and even earlier to become the person that you want to be,” Diaw said. “Personal success is not enough. Much has been invested in you and now is payback time. “We expect you to serve the world.
We are educated so that we can solve the problems of our continent,” Diaw added. Nakiwala Kiyingi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, urged the graduates to have values that shall distinguish them from others if they are to succeed in life. “The world needs determined, hardworking and energetic people like you. You were trained to bring about change in your communities.
With you, we hope to change Uganda for the better,” she said
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The Applicant
- Must be admitted to study at Makerere University Campus in the academic year 2019/2020. This means that in order to fit in the Makerere University Admission Guidelines, All Scholarship applicants should endeavor to apply for admissions when Makerere University advertises for private sponsorship.
- Must be from an economically disadvantaged background and a citizen of any country in Africa.
- Should exhibit academic excellency in either sciences or arts with a minimum of 11 points for young women, and 15 points for young men obtained in Uganda Advanced Certificate of education.(U.A.C.E) or its equivalent from 2016, 2017, 2018
- Must demonstrate leadership potential and commitment to social betterment.
- Must have a record of community service.
- Should not be a holder of any other scholarship.
- Should not have completed any diploma or undergraduate studies.
- Should not be a registered student of any university or tertiary institution.