The Government of Uganda has finally heeded to the cries of campusers and students joining or already at the universities by increasing additional 1,200 slots for students who want to study under the students’ loan scheme. This move now increases the the number of students who will benefit from the loan to 2,525.
This move comes at a time when thousands of students from high school are joining universities with a number not being able to meet all the costs incurred in terms of tuition fees and upkeep. In the recent academic year of 2016/17, only 1,325 students benefited from the annual loan scheme funding from Higher Education Student’s Financing Board (HESFB).
According to Michael Wanyama, the executive director for HESFB, government has also extended the deadline for applications to August 18 for under graduate and August 31, 2017 for prospective diploma applicants respectively.
“We have extended the deadline for receiving application forms for the loan scheme to enable many eligible Ugandans apply for this funding that will enable them receive research fees, tuition fees, up keep and as well finances for persons with disabilities,” Wanyama said yesterday.
Unlike past days, the students loan scheme has been extended from all Government public universities to currently line chartered private universities including Bugema University, Ndejje University, UCU Mukono, Agha Khan University, Kampala University, Kampala International University among others.
However, this year the government has increased funding for the project from shs18b to shs23.3b and its estimated that about 3800 students have benefited since its launch three years ago.
