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 POSTGRADUATE STUDY 

Edwin Wabomba's passion lies in sustainable cities, inclusive housing and conservation.

Therefore, it's little wonder that he picked a course on city planning and real estate for his postgraduate studies when the opportunity came his way.

More specifically, Wabomba, a Ugandan Chevening 2022/2023 scholar, studied a Master's of Science in City Planning and Real Estate Development at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

And after successfully completing his fully sponsored overseas postgraduate studies, he is now back home in Uganda as part of the 332-strong Chevening alumni that Uganda currently has.

Wabomba (extreme left) and other 2022/2023 Cheveners are back home

'We are enriched'

"Chevening changed us," said Wabomba.

"We are different people, we are enriched, we are skilled. 

"Chevening is about our abilities as leaders. It tells a story of success, of big dreams that we are living and continue to live."

Wabomba is one of 18 potential future leaders from Uganda who were awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship in 2022 for a fully funded one-year master’s degree in the UK’s top universities. 

This UK government international scholarship scheme has been running for four decades (since 1983).

It is hinged on providing quality education, leadership and networking skills to beneficiary scholars.

56 Commonwealth Scholarship recipients

Meanwhile, another group of scholars from Uganda (56) were awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship in 2022. They, too, have since arrived back home after their successful postgraduate studies in the UK.

The Commonwealth scholarships are offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK, targetting talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. 

The CSC offers masters, PhDs and fellowships and aims to promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and deliver widespread access to education, especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Francis Mujuni is a 2022 Commonwealth PHD awardee.

"Commonwealth Scholarship heavily invested in us. The education we have gained equipped us with skills and goals to make a change," he said upong return back home.

Uganda boasts of a portfolio of over 1,700 alumni of the Commonwealth Scholarship.

'Make that change'

On Thursday (February 15), the British High Commission Kampala officially welcomed back the 2022 Chevening and Commonwealth scholars to Uganda.

Hosting members of this large group, British High Commissioner to Uganda, Kate Airey OBE, said the individual scholars were picked in the first place because they had potential.

"We believe in you," she told them during the welcome home event.

"We chose you because we identified massive potential in you to make a positive contribution to Uganda’s growth. 

"Given the additional knowledge, exposure and experiences that you now bring to Uganda, make that change, count yourselves amongst the fortunate who are in position to make a change to become game changers and influencers in Uganda," said Airey.

The function provided an opportunity for the scholars to meet their respective alumni networks.

They also introduced themselves to key stakeholders from the education ministry as well as staff members of the British High Commission.