Bugema University Scholarships
The 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides for fundamental human rights and under Chapter 4, Article 30 provides that all persons have a right to education. The preamble to the constitution further provides for National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, and it is under Objective XIV that it is provided that the state shall endeavour to fulfil the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and shall in particular ensure that all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and access to education. In ensuring access to education, Objective XVIII provides that the state shall promote and take appropriate measures to afford every citizen equal opportunity to attain the highest education standard possible.
The Ministry of Education and Sports under its mandate is implementing the Students Loan Scheme for students enrolled in Higher Institutions of Learning beginning Financial Year 2013/14.The objective of the Loan Scheme is to increase equitable access to Higher Education in Uganda and also support qualified students who may not afford the cost of Higher Education. Therefore, the loans shall be made available to brilliant but needy students.
Brilliant means a qualifying student admitted to a Higher Education Institution.
Needy means a Brilliant student who cannot afford to pay the Higher Education Tuition, Research/Functional fees and Aids and Appliances for PWDs.
Rationale for the establishment of the HESFB
In 1997, the Government established Universal Primary Education (UPE); this has led to the increase in enrollment for Primary Education which currently stands at 8.2 million Pupils (i.e 91% of the Primary School Going Children in Uganda).
The increase in Primary enrollment over the years, has led to an increase in the number of students joining Secondary Schools and subsequently Tertiary institutions. Currently, the Universal Secondary Education (USE) enrollment stands at 1.3 million students (i.e 25% of Secondary School Going Children).
To address the increasing numbers, the Government introduced Universal Post Primary Education and Training (UPPET) in 2007 and Universal Post Ordinary Level Education and Training (UPOLET) in 2012.
These initiatives are the key influencing factors that led the NRM Government in its 2011 presidential manifesto to create a Students’ Loan Scheme that is intended to support financially the brilliant but needy students in pursuit for Higher Education.
Role of HESFB
HESFB is mandated to offer Loans and Scholarships to qualifying students at Higher Educations Institutions.
Mission, Vision and Core Values of HESFB
HESFB’s Vision, Mission and Core Values, largely shape its existence, strategy and growth focus.
Vision
“Equitable Financing of Higher Education for all Ugandans”
Mission
“To provide financing support to brilliant but needy Ugandans students as an intervention for equitable access to Higher Education”
Core Values:
- Integrity
- Team work
- Innovativeness
- Transparency
- Fairness
Purpose for the funding
Loans are provided majorly;
- To increase equitable access to Higher Education for all Ugandans
- To support qualified students who cannot afford Higher Education
iii. To ensure regional balance in Higher Education services for all Ugandans
- To develop and support programmes which are deemed critical to national development
- To ensure a sustainable revolving loan Fund
Eligible programmes
The student’s loans scheme shall offer financial support to brilliant but needy students pursuing accredited programmes at the following education levels:
- Post-Secondary Certificates.
- Diplomas
iii. Undergraduate programmes
- Postgraduate programmes
- Doctoral programmes
NB: HESFB shall determine the courses/programmes for funding on annual basis in line with the National Development Priorities and the available resource envelope.
Eligible Courses
HESFB shall determine the programmes/courses to be supported. Information regarding the programmes/courses to be supported for an academic year shall be determined by the Board, and advertised in both visual and print media for the benefit of all stakeholders.
1.0 PROGRAMMES FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/15
The following undergraduate programmes were considered in the first phase S/No. Programmes/Courses:
1 B. Medicine & B. Surgery
2 B. Dentistry
3 B. Physiotherapy
4 B.Sc. Medical Radiography
5 B. Pharmacy
6 B. Pharmaceutical Sciences
7 B. Nursing
8 B. Nursing Completion
9 B. Clinical Medicine & Comm. Health
10 B. Community Health
11 B. Medical Lab. Sciences
12 B. Medical Lab. Completion
13 B. Veterinary Medicine
14 BSc. Animal Production and Management
15 BSc. Education
16 B. Voc. Studies in Agric. with Educ.
17 B. Agriculture
18 BSc. Agriculture Mechanization
19 BSc. Water Resource Engineering
20 BSc. Agro Processing Engineering
21 BSc. Mining Engineering
22 B. Agriculture & Entrepreneurship
23 B.Sc. Electrical Engineering
24 B.Sc. Civil Engineering
25 B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering
26 B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering
NEW DEGREE PROGRAMMES FOR 2015/2016 CONSIDERATION
The Selected disciplines are:-
Computer Science, Statistics, Pure Sciences, Agricultural Extension Education and Special needs Education.
| Discipline | Programme |
| Computer Science | BSc. Computer Science |
| BSc. Information Technology | |
| Statistics | B. Statistics |
| BSc. Quantitative Economics | |
| Pure Science | BSc. Industrial Chemistry |
| Education | Special needs Education |
| Agricultural Extension Education |
| S/No. | DIPLOMA COURSES OFFERED BY HEALTH INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 | Diploma in Mental Health |
| 2 | Diploma in Paediatrics |
| 3 | Diploma in Nursing |
| 4 | Diploma in Midwifery |
| 5 | Diploma in comprehensive Nursing |
| 6 | Diploma in Medical Lab Technology |
| 7 | Diploma in Pharmacy |
| 8 | Diploma in Occupational Therapy |
| 9 | Diploma in Physiotherapy |
| 10 | Diploma in Medical Radiography |
| 11 | Diploma in Clinical Medicine |
| 12 | Diploma in Environmental Health Science |
| 13 | Diploma in Dental Technology |
| 14 | Diploma in Public Health Dentistry |
| 15 | Diploma in Clinical & Community Nutrition |
| 16 | Diploma in Audiology |
| 17 | Diploma in Medical Entomology |
| 18 | Diploma in Health Counselling and Social Care |
| Diploma Courses offered at Technical Colleges, Meteorological & Survey Institutions | |
| 1 | Diploma in Land management and evaluation |
| 2 | Diploma in land Surveying |
| 3 | Diploma in Cartography |
| 4 | Diploma in Physical Planning |
| 5 | Diploma in Metrology |
| 6 | Diploma in Architecture |
| 7 | Diploma in Building & Civil Engineering |
| 8 | Diploma in Ceramics |
| 9 | Diploma in Electrical Engineering |
| 10 | Diploma in Mechanical Engineering |
| 11 | Diploma in Water Engineering |
| 12 | Diploma in Refrigeration & Air Conditioning |
| 13 | Higher Diploma in Building & Construction Engineering |
| 14 | Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering |
| 15 | Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering |
| LIST OF RECOMMENDED DIPLOMA COURSES OFFERED BY THE CHARTERED UNIVERSITIES | |
| University | Programme Name |
| Bugema University | D. Mechanical and Production Engineering. |
| D. Building Engineering | |
| D. Information Technology | |
| Busitema University | D. Ginning Engineering |
| D. animal production & Management | |
| D. Agricultural Engineering | |
| D. Crop production &Management | |
| D. Computer Engineering | |
| GULU UNIVERSITY | D. Computer Science |
| D. in Pharmacy | |
| IUIU | D. Computer Science and Information Technology |
| A.D. Health Services Management | |
| D. Livestock Science | |
| A.D. Health Services Management | |
| D. Comprehensive Nursing | |
| D. Midwifery | |
| D. General Nursing | |
| KIU | D. Computer Science |
| D. Medical Lab Technology | |
| KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY | O.D. in Science Technology (Biology) |
| O.D Science Technology(Chemistry) | |
| O.D Science Technology (Physics) | |
| D. Computer Science | |
| D. Textile Design and Technology | |
| D. Physical Education and Sports Management | |
| D. Food Processing Technology | |
| D. Ceramic Technology | |
| O.D Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | |
| H.D Civil and Building Engineering | |
| D. Ceramics | |
| O.D. Mechanical and Production Engineering | |
| O.D. Civil and Building Engineering | |
| O.D. Telecommunications Engineering | |
| O.D. Water Engineering | |
| O.D. Automobile Engineering | |
| O.D. Architecture | |
| O.D. Computer Engineering | |
| D. Biomedical Engineering | |
| H.D. Mechanical Engineering | |
| H.D. Electrical Engineering | |
| O.D. Electrical and Electronic Engineering | |
| D. Education Secondary (Technological Studies) | |
|
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY |
D. Palliative Care with Hospice Uganda |
| D. Orthopaedic Technology | |
| D. Medical Entomology | |
| D. Orthopaedic Medicine | |
| D. Medical Radiography | |
| D. Public Health Nursing | |
| D. Otolaryngology | |
| D. Occupational Therapy | |
| D. Medical Radiology | |
| D. Anesthesia | |
| D. Medical Laboratory Technology | |
| D. Pharmacy | |
| D. Health Tutors | |
| D. Clinical Psychiatry | |
| D. Ophthalmology | |
| D. Physiotherapy | |
| D. Civil Engineering Surveying | |
| H.D. Clinical Instruction Curriculum | |
| D. Public Health Dentistry | |
| MUST | D. Community HIV/AIDS Care. In Cooperation with the Mildmay Centre |
| D. Science Laboratory Technology | |
| NDEJJE UNIVERSITY | D. Science Laboratory Technology |
| D. Physical Education and Sports Management | |
| D. Sustainable Agriculture | |
| D. Computer Science | |
| NKUMBA UNIVERSITY | D. Environmental Sciences |
| D. Sustainable Agriculture | |
| UCU | D. Health Administration |
| UMU | D. Health Insurance Management |
| D. Computer Science and Information Technology | |
| D. Clinical Mentoring | |
Eligibility Criteria:
An applicant shall be considered for funding on condition that:
- They have an admission to accredited programme/courses from a chartered University or listed Higher Education Institution.
- They are citizens of Uganda.
iii. They have passed the Means Test.
Application for funding
An advert shall be placed in the national newspapers annually soliciting applications from eligible students.
Application forms for the Loans and/or Scholarships shall be completed and submitted to HESFB in a manner defined by the advert.
All applications shall attract an application fee determined by HESFB.
Evidence of payment for the application fee shall form part of the application.
Loan Application Requirements All completed application forms shall be accompanied with:
- 3 coloured pass port size photographs
- Acceptable valid form of Identification which can be (National ID, Passport, Driver’s License, Voter’s Card, School ID, NSSF Card).
iii. Bank slip confirming payment of the Application fee
- Academic Certificates / pass slips
- Birth Certificate
- Admission letter to HEI vii. CRB / Financial Card [mandatory]
viii. Sketch map to applicant’s home of origin.
Funding scope
The financial support (Loans/Scholarship) shall cover:
- Tuition fees
- Functional fees
iii. Research expenses
- Aids and Appliances for PWDs
Pricing
Loans shall be repayable with interest.
The interest shall be determined and defined by HESFB. Scholarships shall not be repayable, except where a student:
- Abandons the course without reasonable cause
- Changes a course
iii. Fails to comply with any other terms and conditions of the scholarship.
Loans
- a) Repayment:
A loanee shall start repaying the loan together with the applicable interest one year after the study period, on gaining employment. The one-year-after-study period is called the Grace Period. The loan shall be repaid over a period equal to the study period as defined in the admission letter. On completion of study, the loanee shall make contact with HESFB to pick the loan repayment schedule.
b)Early Repayment
HESFB shall allow loan repayment before due date (even during the study period) as this reduces the financial burden on the student in terms of the loan and applicable interest. Interest shall be charged on only outstanding loan amounts.
- c) Loan Period
Loan period for purposes of this manual, shall mean, the predetermined period within which the borrower is expected to complete repayment of the loan and the applicable interest. This period for purposes of the Students Loan Scheme, shall be twice the borrower’s study period plus the Grace period.
- d) Loan repayment period:
The loan repayment period shall be the period within which the loanee is expected to complete repayment of the loan and the applicable interest, and is equal to the study period of the programme/course respectively.
- e) Grace period:
Undergraduate loans are permissible to be offered a grace period, which is a 12-month period commencing after the study period. The period is given to enable the loanee re-organise/settle or transit from student to working life.
Obligation of the loanee:
A loanee shall be required within one year after completion of studies:
- To inform the HESFB of their new contacts/address
- To inform HESFB of their plans to commence repayment of the loan and the applicable interest.
iii. To execute a loan repayment schedule with HESFB.
Obligations of an employer of a loanee:
An employer shall be required upon engaged of a loanee:
- To inform HESFB of the engagement in writing
- To deduct and remit to HESFB the loan amount and applicable interest due/outstanding from the loanee’s remuneration.
Types of Scholarships:
- Internal scholarships
Internal scholarships shall be given to students who qualify for programmes that are offered in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda
- External Scholarships
External Scholarships shall only be awarded to students who qualify for programmes that are not offered in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.
iii. Bilateral Scholarships
Bilateral Scholarships may be awarded subject to conditions agreed upon by the Donor Country and the Government of Uganda.