Makerere University awards 432 MasterCard Scholarships to Students

Makerere University has awarded the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Award to 432 students this academic year.

This was at a ceremony that took place on 9^th August 2019 where the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe awarded letters to 432 students.

Makerere University entered a partnership with MasterCard Foundation to offer scholarships to 1,000 academically bright but economically disadvantaged youth from Africa to study at Makerere University from 2013 to 2023.

The project worth US $ 20,989,965.15 is being implemented by Planning and Development Directorate (PDD) with the aim of developing the next generation of African leaders and also promoting the strategic objectives of Makerere University and MasterCard Foundation of contributing to Africa’s higher education sector and development.

While at the award ceremony, the Vice Chancellor advised students to use the chance given to them to become leaders of tomorrow and impact their communities.

“Your path as a future leader starts right here, engaging in constructive intellectual debates, leadership activities, research and innovations. If you stay on this path, we have no doubt that on graduation day you will stand tall and pride in yourself, as a model citizen ready to develop life impacting innovations and solutions that can change your community,” he advised.

The Professor also told the students who were awarded the scholarship not to think much on their background but instead work hard.

“Do not be marginalized because of your background but instead work hard, acquire good grades and leave the university with the best degree,” Nawangwe said.

The Makerere University MasterCard Project Coordination team received 4,700 applications but only 432 students passed the tests. And according to the project coordinator Dr. Justine J. Namaalwa, the team played it well.

“It was a challenging task but you performed it to your best. This year, we awarded a total of 432 scholarships, of which 94percent are Ugandans and 6 percent are international students from Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Cameroon,” said Dr. Namaalwa.

The Chairperson of Selection Committee Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi also had this to say upon the scholarship awarded; “this is a new chapter presented before you. You have gone through a lot to acquire this scholarship. This is the right time to start building your dream and career, therefore I inspire you to work hard to achieve a bright future.”