Science students to win bursaries

May 26, 2009

SCIENCE students who are gifted, but are financially handicapped have a reason to smile. A sh500m bursary scheme is available to university students pursuing courses like agriculture, medicine, business administration, law, engineering, veterinary and de

By Ayiga Ondoga

SCIENCE students who are gifted, but are financially handicapped have a reason to smile. A sh500m bursary scheme is available to university students pursuing courses like agriculture, medicine, business administration, law, engineering, veterinary and dentistry among others.

The chairman of the scholarship committee at Madvahni Foundation, Henry Kyemba, said the money, so far the largest amount ever released by the Foundation in its annual contribution to the education sector, will enable hundreds of gifted but financially challenged students to complete their university education.

“The recent policy adopted by the Government has seen the re-direction of funding in the education sector towards primary and secondary learning. As a result, the number of government scholarship available for university students has dramatically reduced,” Kyemba noted.

He made the remarks at a press briefing on the foundation’s education programme at Sheraton Hotel Kampala recently. Present was Dr. Susan Akello, a former recipient of the grant.
Kyemba said the foundation set up the University Education Trust in 2003 to promote scientific and technical education.

He said since inception of the scholarship programme by the foundation in 2003, a total of 690 university students have benefited, out of which 540 have completed studies and graduated and over sh1.3b has been provided.

Kyemba said the bursary scheme was for all the financially disadvantaged but bright students across the country regardless of region, religion and tribe.
He appealed to the applicants to be honest about their backgrounds so that the scholarship benefits the right people. The closing date for the application is May 30, to give time for the verification exercise.

He said students from northern Uganda, which has suffered seriously due to the LRA conflict, will be accorded special status. The secretary of the foundation, S.K Iyenger said talented Ugandan students, both undergraduates and post graduates, of sound character who are facing difficulties in paying for their studies, can benefit.

Iyenger said the application forms for the scholarship can be downloaded from their website at www.madhvanifoundation.com or collected from the Muljibhai Madhvani Building at plot 20/2 Jinja Road, Kampala.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});