Airtel Uganda has unveiled 20 students as the first beneficiaries of a $1m (£800,000) scholarship programme aimed at boosting science and technology education.
The Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship, worth 3.85bn Ugandan shillings, provides full funding for undergraduates from low-income households to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
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The initiative targets high-achieving students from underprivileged backgrounds who have previously been held back by the cost of higher education.
The scholarship recipients will be enrolled at several of the country’s top institutions, including Makerere University, Kyambogo University, ISBAT University, Uganda Christian University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Soumendra Sahu, the managing director of Airtel Uganda, said the four-year investment was a commitment to developing the next generation of African talent.
“Our mission is to create a tangible and lasting impact by ensuring that no bright mind is left behind due to financial limitations,” Mr Sahu said. “These scholars are on a path to contribute meaningfully to Uganda and Africa’s growing digital economy.”
One of the beneficiaries, Edgar Baluku, is set to study telecommunications engineering at Uganda Christian University. He described the funding as a life-changing opportunity.
“I have been struggling, like many students, to get school fees for my education,” Mr Baluku said. “This scholarship gives me the chance to pursue my dreams.”
The programme is part of a wider strategy by the Airtel Africa Foundation to promote digital inclusion and empower young innovators across the continent.
