700 youths win bursaries under higher education access programme

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A total of 700 young women and men have been selected from a competitive pool of 8,000 applicants as overall winners for the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda Chapter/ Mastercard Foundation Higher Education Access Programme (HEAP).

This means the Extended Orientation Programme (EOP) for the academic year 2025/2026 bursary recipients under the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) has officially closed.

This milestone event, held at Uganda Technical College (UTC) Elgon in Mbale on Tuesday, marked the formal preparation of 700 new scholars embarking on their higher education journeys at universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across Uganda.

The beneficiaries have undergone orientation, which ran from 8th to 12th August 2025, hosted at Uganda Technical College (UTC) Elgon, UTC Lira and UTC Kichwamba.

EOP is an essential platform designed to help bursary awardees adjust to university life, strengthen leadership skills, and prepare for a successful transition into the workforce after their graduation.

According to Dr Martha Muhwezi, the Executive Director of FAWE Africa, who officiated at the closing ceremony, the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) targets talented but economically disadvantaged youth, with a focus on inclusivity for refugees, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities.

She noted that building on the success of HEAP Phase I, FAWE Uganda launched Phase II in April 2024 with a goal to support over 1,200 young people from 50 districts.”

“It is imperative that we equip our daughters and sons, inspire them, and now send them forth to different TVET institutions across the country, ready to build their futures,” Dr Muhwezi said.

In 2025, the program expanded its coverage to 63 districts, now including newly added districts: Bulambuli, Gulu, Ibanda, Kabale, Kalangala, Kapelebyong, Kagadi, Koboko, Kyegegwa, Lira, Pakwach, and Rubirizi.

This expansion aims to broaden access and create more opportunities for youth across Uganda’s diverse regions, especially those from marginalised groups.

Susan Opok Tumusiime, Executive Director of FAWE Uganda, highlighted that the Extended Orientation Programme has equipped the young people with the knowledge, networks, and confidence required to navigate the challenges ahead in life.

‘’Beyond tuition and stipends, FAWE Uganda offers psychosocial support and runs a structured mentorship program. Trained institutional mentors provide guidance to small groups of mentees, offering consistent encouragement, monitoring progress, and liaising with FAWE to ensure students receive comprehensive support for academic and personal success.”

The programme also provides mentorship sessions and networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect with industry professionals and peers, thereby building valuable relationships that will support their educational paths.

Research commissioned by FAWE Uganda shows challenges such as low transition rates to higher education, insufficient preparation for university studies, and limited access for marginalised students which gaps have been bridged under HEAC programme.

Uganda’s Gross Enrollment Ratio for higher education is only 6.8%, below the sub-Saharan Africa average of 9.4%. These realities underscore the importance of bridging programmes like HEAC.

One of the beneficiaries identified as Olobo commended FAWE and Mastercard Foundation for the opportunity explaining that he had tried applying last year but failed.

“I am disabled and from a poor family. I have faced challenges in my education journey but now I am sure my dreams will come true through this offer.”

About FAWE Uganda Higher Education Access Program (HEAP)

The FAWE Uganda chapter partners with the Mastercard Foundation to implement the HEAP bursary program, which supports academically talented young women and men, particularly from underrepresented communities to access and complete higher education programs in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

For the academic year 2025/2026, FAWE Uganda is offering 700 bursaries distributed across:

• 500 bursaries for the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) program at partner universities.
• 200 bursaries for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) focused on STEM-related courses at accredited institutions.

The program prioritises gender equity with 80% of bursaries allocated to young women and 20% to young men.

Over 4 million children are estimated to be out of school, and transition rates to secondary and tertiary levels are still low in rural and conflict-affected areas. In addition, only 13% of persons with disabilities aged 15 and above have attained secondary education or higher, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

Achievements and Impact from Phase 1

A total of 334 participants (206 females and 128 males) has been enrolled.

Among these, 221 participants (135 females and 86 males) have successfully graduated.

190 graduates (92 females and 98 males) have secured employment in both formal and informal sectors.

Additionally, 15 graduates (4 females and 11 males) have progressed to further education.

A significant accomplishment was the accreditation of the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), recognising it as a fourth entry route to university education in Uganda.

The FAWE bursary initiative is part of a seven-year scholarship program (2024–2030) designed to support academically talented yet economically disadvantaged young women and men across Sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information and application guidelines for the next cohort, please check FAWE Uganda website at www.fawe uganda.org.