The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, disclosed that approximately 1,000 students withdraw from the institution annually, citing losses in tuition fees resulting from sports betting.
Prof Nawangwe made these remarks during the recognition and award ceremony for the 12 top-performing graduates of 2024 from the College of Business and Management Sciences (COBAMS).
This ceremony, held in collaboration with Makerere University, the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Prudential Uganda, aimed to reward outstanding graduates with cash prizes, mentorship opportunities, graduate training, and scholarships for CPA enrollment.
The Vice Chancellor explained that their research was prompted by reports of students leaving the university due to financial constraints.
However, investigations revealed that these students received tuition fees from their parents but opted to invest in sports betting, hoping for profitable returns.
“Contrary to popular belief, these students did not drop out due to lack of funds. They had the necessary fees but chose to gamble in the hopes of making a profit,” Prof Nawangwe stated.
He further revealed that these students would deceive their parents by attending the graduation ceremony at Freedom Square, despite never attending lectures.
Eventually, they would find themselves in dire financial situations, resorting to fabricating stories to explain their predicament to their parents.
In a notable incident from May 2023, a Makerere University student self-abducted after squandering his tuition fees on sports betting.
Augustine Ssekajugo, a second-year Dental Surgery student, disappeared from his rented accommodation in Makerere-Kikoni and sought refuge in Iganga District.
After an extensive search by the police, he was apprehended from his hideout in Butama Village, Nakalama Sub County, Iganga District.
