A final-year Makerere University pharmacy student is on the brink of dropping out after being hit with a massive UGX 12.3 million tuition debt.
According to a letter from the College of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, dated August 18, 2025, the student, identified as Nayebare Ursula, has been described as a “dedicated and committed learner” whose academic progress now hangs in the balance.
Signed by Dr. Kalida Rajab, a lecturer at the department, the appeal urges well-wishers and potential sponsors to step in and rescue Ursula before her studies are derailed.
“This amount is a barrier for her to continue her studies and any delay in addressing it will jeopardize her academic progress,” the letter reads.
The total debt — UGX 12,370,700 — has left her unable to register and complete her final-year coursework.
The lecturer called on individuals, organizations, and the general public to extend financial assistance, stressing that helping Ursula would ensure she fulfills her dream of becoming a pharmacist.
The plea has since stirred emotional reactions among students online, many describing her struggle as a reflection of the “hidden battles” countless learners face at Uganda’s top university.
As graduation season looms, it remains to be seen whether the appeal will rally enough goodwill to save Ursula’s academic journey — or whether financial hardship will cut short years of hard work.
