The International University of East Africa (IUEA) has launched a scholarship campaign to attract more numbers of students to the university as well as reduce the rate of dropping out.

Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa, the vice-chancellor of the university, said the university will sponsor at least 1,000 students to attend different courses, most especially in sciences.

(L-R) Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo, the Chief Justice and chairman Chairperson board of Trustee congratulates Amb Dr Amina Mohamed after being installed as second chancellor International University of East Africa (IUEA). Photos by Abbey Ramadhan

Akaezuwa said with the current economy, many students and parents cannot afford to pay tuition which has seen several of them not turning up.

“Not all can afford an excellent education, we need to fund them and we shall go for well-excelled students, talented in a given sporting activity, financially not well, innovators and others,” he said.

(L-R) Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo, the Chief Justice and chairman Chairperson board of Trustee, Ambassador Moses Kiwe Sebunya, the chairman University Council, Amb Dr Amina Mohamed, Dr. Emeka Akaezuwa. Vice Chancellor and others inspecting the University during installation of Dr Amina Mohamed as IUEA chancellor.

Akaezuwa said the university will continue giving scholarships to students who show passion for education and have the urge to do innovations that can solve problems affecting the country’s development.

“We intend to continue giving more scholarships because we want to open more opportunities for young innovators,” he said.

As a sign of leading by example, he donated $1000 (about sh3.7m) for the first students who will show up for the opportunities of scholarships.

According to the 2016 Africa Higher Education Student Survey Project, almost 30% of all students in Uganda, who join university education various degree programmes in various universities, never finish their courses on time, or just drop out. 

However, Akaezuwa attributes the problem to a lack of tuition.

Akaezuwa made remarks at the event of installing the second chancellor Ambassador Dr Amina Mohamed yesterday (February 16) at Kansanga in Makindye, Kampala.

Mohamed succeeds former Bank of Uganda governor the late Prof. Tumusiime Mutebile, who served as IUEA's founding chancellor since its inception in 2010.

Mohamed previously worked at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) as chairperson and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) general council, as well as assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and deputy executive director of the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Mohamed becomes the first woman to lead any university in Uganda as a chancellor.

Mohamed commended the good of the latter chancellor and promised to start from where he stopped. 

This will be done in the form of changing the style of the education system into practical learning as well as partnering with other universities to create a better relationship between learners and university heads.