The authorities in charge of the government loan scheme have canceled study loans for 47 university students for falsely declaring their parents dead, Campus Bee has learned.
According to sources, the financially struggling students lied about the death of their parents in order to benefit from the students’ loan scheme. It was later discovered that their parents are alive and kicking.
Out of the 1,113 beneficiaries of the 2020/2021 academic year study loans, 47 students didn’t provide true information. The students are from various public and private universities, including Makerere, Kampala International University, Kabale, Kyambogo, and Ndejje University.
This news website has been notified that the students, who had already benefited from the scheme will be compelled to refund the public funds. It was also discovered that other students either lied about disability or forged vital documents, which helped them to secure the funds.
The names of the affected students were not revealed to protect the parents and other family members who were not part of the scheme.
It is important to note that the Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) that awards students loans usually gives priority to students with disabilities, orphans, females and students from northern Uganda.
According to the HESFB Communication Manager, Bob Nuwagira, majority of the affected students were pursuing Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Pharmacy and Engineering courses. 32 out of the 47 students falsely declared their parents dead, 10 faked disabilities while others submitted false documents.
“In accordance with Section 38 of the Higher Education Students Financing Act, an applicant who makes a false statement to the board commits an offence. It is against this background that the board decided to terminate your loans with immediate effect,” a letter addressed to one of the beneficiaries reads in part.
“Please note that you have already received funds amounting to Shs3.1m which you must pay. Please make arrangements with our loan recoveries team on how the funds shall be repaid. Also arrange to privately meet your fees requirement going forward,” the letter reads further.
Following the forgeries, Nuwagira revealed that the board will now first verify the documents of all applicants before releasing the money.
