As a strategy to help vulnerable, but bright children from poor families access quality education in Ruhaama county, Ntungamo district, old boys and old girls from Butare parish in Ntungamo sub-county have launched the Butare Scholarship Fund (BSF).

Senior Commissioner of Police and head of enforcement at the National Drug Authority Samuel Kyomukama, while addressing the congregation at the fundraising dinner on Saturday at the Kampala Serena Hotel, asked local leaders to engage in community education initiatives to supplement government efforts.

Hon Francis Mwijukye of Buhweju County speaking at Serena Hotel in Kampala on Saturday during fundraising dinner.

“I hail from Kanungu [district] in Kigezi, but efforts towards attaining quality education were communal under the International Community of the Banyakigezi, which assisted many to acquire education,” he said.

“I was able to study at St Mary’s College Kisubi when I was coming from Kanungu district from a very poor background,” Kyomukama added.

The scholarship, according to BSF chairperson David Kahundha Muhwezi, seeks to provide education to bright children from humble families, disabled children, and orphaned children who obtain good grades at all levels of education in Butare community and surrounding parishes in Ruhaama county.

“Other projects being undertaken are school construction, provision of textbooks and Butare Community Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation,” he said.

Chairperson of Butare Scholarship Fund David Kahundha Muhwezi welcoming fellow members at the dinner.

Some conditions of the scholarship

Muhwezi added that the award covers only the years specified for the programme and failure to complete studies or graduate will require one to refund the money spent on them.

“Poor academic performance automatically leads to cancellation of the scholarship,” he said.

Muhwezi added that every beneficiary was expected to exhibit exemplary conduct both in and around the school, university and or any other institution in question.

“Failure to observe discipline leads to cancellation of the scholarship and on completion of studies and getting employment, beneficiaries pay back 5% of their monthly net earnings,” he added.

“At least 60% of scholarship beneficiaries shall be awarded to the females because the girl child has been traditionally challenged in accessing quality education,” he revealed.

Orphans with good grades will be given the highest priority and pupils living with disabilities will be given 10% markup for affirmative action, according to Muhwezi.

Ntungamo district education officer Odo Arigye welcomed the initiative saying that he hoped the scholarship shall support mostly those children from humble backgrounds who have been dropping out immediately after completing Primary Leaving Examinations.

“The government should have a law that forces parents to pay back all the money spent on their children if they drop out of school without health or physical issues,” he said.

Arigye attributed school dropout to underage marriages, petty trade, child labour and poor attitude towards education by parents.

 Over sh125m both in cash and pledges was collected while 22 scholarships in kind ranging from S1 to the university were secured.