Makerere University has admitted 21,397 students under the private sponsorship scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year, reflecting the institution’s continued dominance in Uganda’s higher education landscape. Of these, 497 are international students, further cementing Makerere’s reputation as a regional academic hub.
But while the numbers look impressive on the surface, a closer analysis reveals underlying trends and challenges—some familiar, others emerging.
A Tale of Two Institutions
According to Charles Ssentongo, Makerere’s deputy academic registrar for undergraduate admissions, 10,000 of the admitted students will be studying at Makerere’s main campus, while 11,000 will enroll at Makerere University Business School (MUBS). The near-parity in admissions between the main university and its business-focused affiliate is telling: demand for business and management-related programs continues to surge, overshadowing traditional sciences.
Two business administration courses—evening (899 students) and day (885 students)—top the enrollment list at MUBS. Meanwhile, science and health-related programs struggle to attract similar numbers. For example, only 31 students have been admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Laboratory Technology, and just 21 to Dental Surgery.
This stark contrast raises questions about the country’s educational and labor market alignment. While Uganda desperately needs more health professionals and scientists, most students seem drawn to fields they perceive as more marketable or accessible, such as business, accounting, and procurement.
High Cutoffs Reflect High Demand
Courses with the highest private scheme cutoff points—BSc in Accounting (52.5 points), Procurement and Supply Chain Management (50.8), and Quantity Surveying (50.8)—highlight where student demand is strongest. In contrast, Travel and Tourism, with a cutoff of 17.3 points, had the lowest bar to entry.
These cutoffs suggest that competition remains intense for high-demand programs, even on a self-funded basis. They also serve as informal indicators of perceived job market value: students (and their parents) are strategically investing in courses that promise higher returns.
Inclusivity in Progress
Alongside private admissions, the Government released a list of admitted students with disabilities who qualified for state sponsorship. This step underscores a growing commitment to inclusive education, ensuring that marginalized groups are not left behind.
From nearly every corner of the country—Bududa to Yumbe, Kasese to Kitgum—students with disabilities will join Uganda’s top institutions, including Makerere, MUBS, Kyambogo, Gulu University, and MUST. Their inclusion is not only symbolic but practical, as Uganda works to build an education system that reflects its diverse population.
The Bigger Picture
This year’s intake under the private scheme points to a broader story: access to higher education is expanding, but the sector remains unevenly tilted toward a few popular courses. With science programs still struggling for traction and certain disciplines overwhelmed with applicants, Uganda’s universities face a difficult balancing act—meeting market demand while still producing graduates in areas of national need.
Makerere, as the flagship university, will need to do more than just admit large numbers. It must steer students toward areas that are under-enrolled but critical, offer incentives, improve facilities for science and health programs, and ensure quality keeps pace with quantity.
With over 21,000 students joining the system under private sponsorship alone, this admission cycle is a milestone. But whether it becomes a moment of transformation or just another statistic will depend on what comes next.
