• Airtel Africa Foundation allocated 3.85 billion Ugandan shillings (about $1 million) in fully funded scholarships to 20 students.
• The beneficiaries will pursue ICT-related degrees at leading Ugandan universities, including Makerere University and Kyambogo University.
• Only 5.7% of Ugandans aged 10 and above have reached post-secondary education, highlighting structural access gaps.

Airtel Africa Foundation announced on February 5, that it awarded fully funded scholarships to 20 talented students for a total value of 3.85 billion Ugandan shillings, or approximately $1 million. Local media reported that the recipients will pursue higher education in information and communication technology fields, a sector that policymakers consider central to the country’s economic transformation.

The foundation structured the awards under the “Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship” program. The program aims to remove “financial barriers and skills gaps that limit young Africans’ participation in the digital economy.” The selection process prioritized students with strong academic performance and high potential in technology disciplines. The beneficiaries will enroll in recognized Ugandan institutions that specialize in ICT training, including Makerere University and Kyambogo University.

Soumendra Sahu, Managing Director of Airtel Uganda, said the initiative represents a long-term investment in technological capacity. “Technology is the language of progress, and by equipping these students with education and skills, we invest in people and solutions that will transform communities, industries and nations,” he said during the official scholarship award ceremony.

Investing Further in Local Skills

Airtel Africa Foundation framed the initiative as more than individual financial assistance. The foundation aims to build a pipeline of local expertise capable of meeting rising demand in the digital sector. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted this need in its “Africa’s Development Dynamics 2024” report, which stated that Africa requires qualified professionals to sustain technological development.

The scholarship program comes as access to higher education remains constrained in Uganda despite progress in basic education. The latest Uganda National Household Survey (2023/24) showed that secondary school enrollment remains low. The survey reported a gross enrollment rate of about 34% and a net enrollment rate of only 23% among school-age youth, signaling significant barriers to progression into tertiary education.

At the same time, available data showed that only 5.7% of the population aged 10 years and above has reached post-secondary education, underscoring the scarcity of graduates. Public university enrollment increased by nearly 17% across nine institutions. However, demand continued to outpace supply, limiting access for many qualified and ambitious students.

Against this backdrop, Airtel Africa Foundation’s intervention illustrates how private sector actors seek to complement public capacity. The initiative channels capital into human capital development and aligns corporate strategy with national digital transformation objectives.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM