(This article was first published in the Sunday Vision on October 3, 2021)
By Martin Kitubi
Makerere University has increased admissions on government scholarships by 21 slots.
According to a list of students admitted on national merit that New Vision has obtained, there is an increase in the number of beneficiaries from 1,471 students in 2020, to 1,492 this year.
The list includes students admitted at both Makerere University (main campus) and Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
MUBS is an affiliate of Makerere University.
Of the total number of beneficiaries, 1,227 students have been admitted at Makerere University, whereas 265 will enrol at MUBS.
However, only 65 courses out of the over 180 undergraduate programmes at both Makerere University and MUBS were selected for government scholarship.
This is a drop compared to last year where a total of 77 programmes were considered for admission on national merit.
Traditional Courses
Just like last year, the traditional science programmes such as medicine and mechanical engineering, as well the education but science-related programmes, have dominated the shortlist.
For instance, bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery had the lion’s share with 82 beneficiaries.
However, this too was a drop in the ocean compared to last year, where a total of 86 students were admitted for the programme.
Medicine is followed by bachelor of science with education (biological) with 62 beneficiaries and bachelor of science with education (physical) in the third position with 59 slots. Both programmes (biological and physical) in education are for science teachers.
Last year, bachelor of science with education (physical) had 60 beneficiaries, whereas bachelor of science with education (biological) registered 58 students.
They are followed by bachelor of science in electrical engineering with 43 students, bachelor of science in agriculture with 38 and bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and bachelor of statistics with 36 beneficiaries each.
Although Uganda is currently at the development stage of its oil resources, the bachelor of science in petroleum geoscience and production got less than 10 beneficiaries. This year, the programme has just eight beneficiaries down from nine in 2020.
Makerere University
Prof. Umar Kakumba, the Makerere University deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs, confirmed the authenticity of the list.
