The Government has increased the number of beneficiaries for students loan scheme to include students pursuing courses at diploma level.
Loans will be given to 200 more students to pursue science-related diplomas at 15 universities for the year 2015/2016 according to information released by the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB).
Michael Wanyama, the executive director of HESFB says the 200 are in addition to 1,296 beneficiaries studying science related courses at degree level.
The students loan scheme is allocated Shs. 6billion according to the National Budget for the financial year 2015/2016.
Only students at Public universities and private chartered universities in Uganda can apply for student loans.
These universities include: Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Busitema University, Ndejje University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Uganda Christian University, Nkumba University, Islamic University in Uganda, Bugema University, Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala International University, Muni University.
For the year 2015/2016, students at the two newly private chartered universities; Kabale university and Bishop Stuart University also have the chance to apply for students’ loans.
Science courses funded under the students’ loan scheme at Kabale university include the following;
- Nursing Science
- Land Use
- Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Building and Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Science Education
In the academic year 2014/2015, Kampala International University took the loin’s share with 407 students out of 1,296 beneficiaries.
The graph below shows the number of student beneficiaries among the selected universities through which student loans were channeled for the academic year 2014/2015.