MPs seek bigger university sponsorship share for rural, vulnerable learners
Members resolved that Government should review the distribution of the 4,000 annual government sponsorship slots, with particular emphasis on increasing the allocation under the District Quota Scheme, which currently receives 896 of the 1,000 places reserved for affirmative action.
While considering the motion, Members amended its title to expressly include the Sports Scheme and Special Needs Scheme after concerns were raised that the two affirmative action programmes had been omitted despite being referenced in the body of the motion. (New Vision/Files)
KAMPALA - Parliament has passed a resolution urging Government to review its undergraduate sponsorship programme and increase the number of places allocated under the District Quota Scheme to widen access to public university education for students from poor, disadvantaged and rural communities.
The motion was moved by Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (Bardege-Layibi Division, NRM) during the House sitting on July 14, 2026.
Members resolved that Government should review the distribution of the 4,000 annual government sponsorship slots, with particular emphasis on increasing the allocation under the District Quota Scheme, which currently receives 896 of the 1,000 places reserved for affirmative action.
Under the current arrangement, government awards 3,000 sponsorships, representing 75 percent of the annual intake, through the national merit scheme, while the remaining 1,000 places are shared among the District Quota Scheme (896), Sports Scheme (40) and Special Needs Scheme (64).
While considering the motion, Members amended its title to expressly include the Sports Scheme and Special Needs Scheme after concerns were raised that the two affirmative action programmes had been omitted despite being referenced in the body of the motion.
Alex Ndeezi (NRM, Workers Representative for Persons with Disabilities) supported the proposal and called for the interests of students admitted under the Sports Scheme and learners with disabilities to be protected.
Laura Kanushu (NRM, Female Representative for Persons with Disabilities) welcomed the motion and appealed for greater support for students with disabilities.
"There can never be a more vulnerable student than that with special needs. If there are people who need sponsorship at the universities more than anyone else, it is the students with disabilities. So, we cannot afford to leave them out," Kanushu said.
She further proposed that priority be given to students who studied in public schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes.
"The children who go to the public schools are the neediest ones," she said.
Bruce Balaba (Rubanda County West, NRM) said available evidence since the introduction of the District Quota Scheme indicates that students admitted from rural schools frequently perform better at university than their counterparts admitted through the national merit scheme.
He proposed that half of district quota sponsorships be reserved for science programmes, observing that nearly 90 per cent of students admitted under the scheme currently pursue humanities courses.
He further recommended increasing the number of district quota sponsorships while reducing the proportion allocated under the national merit scheme.
Presenting the motion, Mapenduzi said government sponsorship has remained at 4,000 students annually over the past five years despite between 60,000 and 80,000 students qualifying each year for admission to public universities.
He argued that a large proportion of government sponsorships under the national merit scheme are awarded to students from top-performing schools, many of whom come from relatively well-off families.
Mapenduzi noted that although the District Quota Scheme was introduced in 2004 to address regional and socio-economic disparities in access to higher education, the allocation of 896 places based on district population continues to disadvantage rural districts with smaller populations, leaving many poor and underprivileged students without support.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who chaired the House, directed that implementation of the resolution should be guided by the Rules of Procedure, which require the responsible minister to report back to Parliament on action taken within 60 days.
Parliament consequently resolved to urge Government to review the undergraduate sponsorship programme and increase the number of places allocated to the District Quota Scheme to enable more students from poor, disadvantaged and rural communities to access government-funded university education.