Student leaders from a cross-section of universities in Uganda have protested a decision by the government to suspend some of the higher education loan scheme programs.

Led by Makerere University Guild president, Allionzi Dangote, the students said the suspension could adversely affect higher education completion rates in the country.

Dangote said at least 25 percent of such students are expected to come from Makerere University.

"We urge the government to reverse the decision and instead think about increasing the numbers on the scheme," Dangote said on Friday (January 13).

The development comes after the Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) suspended study loans for second, third and fourth-year students in all universities and tertiary institutions across the country, citing financial constraints. 

According to Michael Wanyama, the executive director of the board, the suspension will hold until the board gets the money.

He added that for now, they are only sponsoring first-year students.

Since the inception of the higher education students’ loan scheme, the government has supported mainly science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs (except for people with disabilities who are free to apply on any course as part of the government affirmative action to PWDs).

Of the students who have been supported under the scheme, 3,606 are from the health and medical profession, and 3,600 are from engineering and technology.

A total of 2,252 have come from science education, 1,000 from agriculture and over 2,000 from other natural sciences.

To qualify for the loan, one must be a Ugandan and must demonstrate that they are needy and cannot afford to pay for their education at the institution where they have been admitted.

The students’ loan covers tuition fees, research fees and aids and appliances for PWDs.