Eight bright but disadvantaged students have been awarded university scholarships worth sh270m through the Muhairwe Education Trust Limited (METL). The scholarships were granted after a competitive process that saw 150 applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds express interest. Only 14 were shortlisted for interviews, and eight emerged successful. The beneficiaries are Bridget Watenga, Panchol Aleir Ngong, Kedrine Agenorwot, Jonathan Musiime, Brian Gumisiriza, Sr Winifred Tumuheirwe, Ronald Dibworo and Lawrence Mujurizi.
CRITERIA
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants needed to be underprivileged and must have attended Universal Primary Education (UPE) or Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools.
Dr William Tsimwa Muhairwe, the founder of METL, emphasised that candidates also had to demonstrate financial need and commit to contributing 10% to 20% of their monthly earnings for the first five years of employment, while also being eligible to study at a public university. “METL targets brilliant but needy students pursuing much-in-demand courses such as medicine, engineering, law and commerce studies.
If someone can excel academically without attending private or traditional schools, then they deserve support. Most of the students we have taken up have come from poor schools and scored highly despite the odds,” Dr Muhairwe said. He cited Bridget Watenga as an example, stating that she got aggregate 8 in her O’level exams but remained at home due to lack of support. Watenga is an orphan whose mother is ill, and she depends on her grandmother. During interviews conducted at METL in Kampala, Dr Muhairwe shared his own story, attributing his success to the support of veteran journalist Paul Busharizi’s family. “Without their help, I would not have completed my education. They picked me from the streets of Nairobi and helped me secure a passport and air ticket after I had won a scholarship to study in Europe. Now, I am paying it forward by supporting others,” Dr Muhairwe said.
APPEAL FOR SUPPORT
Despite their best efforts, METL is only able to fund eight of the 10 candidates who passed the interviews due to financial constraints.
“We appeal to other well- wishers to support the remaining needy students,” Muhairwe urged. “For example, one is pursuing medicine and needs sh32m to complete his course, while another studying anaesthesia requires sh23m,” the founder of METL said. METL’s sustainability is partially supported by contributions from former beneficiaries, families, friends as well as revenue from the sale of knowledge books like Making Public Enterprises Work. Staff members from partner organisations such as 2ML Consulting Limited and Tracecorp Solutions Limited have also dedicated 5% of their retainers towards the fund, Moreen Nyakato, the programme co-ordinator, said.
BENEFICIARY’S SAY Kedrine Agenorwot, an orphan, said: “…I promise to work hard and avoid retakes, aiming for a second-class upper degree or better,” she said.”
