A loan beneficiary attending her graduation
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, continues to advance equitable access to higher education through the Students’ Loan Scheme, an intervention designed to support academically qualified but financially constrained students to pursue tertiary education and contribute to national development.
Since its inception, the Scheme has emerged as a critical financing mechanism for higher education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while also supporting selected humanities programmes and advancing affirmative action for vulnerable groups.
The secretariat registered that between 2014 and 2024, a total of 16,014 students have benefited from the Students’ Loan Scheme across the country. Of these, 10,866 are male and 5,148 are female, demonstrating steady progress in widening access to higher education opportunities.
A total of 134 students with special needs have been supported, including 94 in science programmes and 40 in arts-related disciplines, reflecting government’s commitment to inclusive education.
The Scheme has significantly strengthened Uganda’s human capital base, with beneficiaries distributed across key priority disciplines: Engineering – 4,497 students, Science Education – 2,834 students, Human Medicine – 2,312 students, Computer Science & ICT – 1,505 students, Agricultural Sciences.
Over 80% of beneficiaries accessed the facility within the last nine years, underscoring increasing demand and growing public trust in the programme.
Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, Minister of State for Higher Education, noted that the number of learners qualifying for higher education has more than doubled from approximately 60,000 in the early 2000s to about 150,000 annually today. However, only about 50,000 students transition into universities and other tertiary institutions, leaving a significant financing gap that the Scheme seeks to address. Government is therefore considering expanding funding to support up to 3,000 additional students annually, in line with the approved strategic framework.
Eligibility for the Students’ Loan Scheme is guided by principles of equity, merit, and financial need. An applicant must be a Ugandan citizen, have been admitted to an accredited institution of higher learning (public university, private chartered university, or accredited tertiary institution in Uganda), be pursuing an undergraduate diploma or degree programme and demonstrate financial need.
Selection further considers district quota representation, gender balance, and socio-economic vulnerability, ensuring equitable national coverage. The Students’ Loan Scheme has enabled thousands of deserving students to access higher education. It has strengthened Uganda’s capacity in science and innovation and remains a key instrument for national development.
