IGANGA CHAIRPERSON APPEALS TO STATE HOUSE FOR UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BRIGHT, NEEDY STUDENTS

By Barasa Richard

IGANGA DISTRICT, October 21, 2026 — Iganga District Chairperson M. Shabiru Isabirye has appealed to State House to extend university scholarship opportunities to academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students, saying the cost of higher education is preventing many young people from advancing despite their academic achievements.

In a letter dated October 5, 2026, referenced LCV/ADM/10/004/2026 and addressed to the State House Controller, Jane Barekye, Isabirye requested support for deserving students from poor and vulnerable households who cannot afford university tuition, accommodation and other related expenses.

The letter was received and stamped by the Information and Security Registry at State House on October 15, 2026. Isabirye said the district continues to face the challenge of students who perform well academically but fail to join university because their parents and guardians lack the financial resources to support further education.

He acknowledged government efforts to support students through various education initiatives but observed that many families in Iganga believe they have not had adequate access to such opportunities. “We are grateful for the various education-support initiatives that have benefited students in different parts of the country. However, many families in Iganga continue to feel that they have not had adequate access to such opportunities,” Isabirye stated in the letter.

The district chairperson asked the State House Controller's office to consider extending existing university scholarship programmes to Iganga and provide guidance on the application procedures, eligibility criteria and other requirements. He emphasised that priority should be given to students who have demonstrated strong academic performance but come from families struggling to meet the costs of higher education.

According to Isabirye, supporting such learners would give disadvantaged young people an opportunity to fulfil their potential while developing the skills needed to contribute to the growth of Iganga, the wider Busoga sub-region and Uganda. “Education remains one of the most powerful ways of breaking the cycle of poverty. Supporting a young person from a disadvantaged family today is an investment in the future of our community,” the letter reads in part.

He also assured State House that the district leadership was prepared to work transparently with the relevant authorities to identify genuinely deserving beneficiaries and ensure that any scholarship opportunities reach students who need them most. POVERTY THREATENS UNIVERSITY DREAMS The appeal highlights the difficulties faced by families whose children perform well in national examinations but cannot proceed to university because of financial constraints.

In Nakalama, one mother, who requested anonymity, said her daughter scored 14 points in the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations in 2024 but has since been selling tomatoes at a local trading centre because the family could not raise the money required for university tuition. The account illustrates the financial barriers that can prevent academically promising students from translating their results into higher education opportunities.

Teachers in the district have also expressed concern about learners who complete their secondary education with good grades but remain at home because their families cannot afford university fees. According to concerns raised by educators in the district, some high-performing students miss university admission opportunities each year because of financial hardship rather than a lack of academic ability.

For affected learners, the inability to continue their education can mean postponing career ambitions while seeking alternative sources of income. Some former students reportedly turn to casual labour in sugarcane plantations and motorcycle transport work to support themselves and their families. The situation has prompted calls for increased access to scholarships and other forms of financial assistance that would enable deserving students from low-income households to continue their studies.

COMMUNITY CALLS FOR FAIR ACCESS

Community leaders in Busoga have welcomed efforts to expand scholarship opportunities, arguing that financial support for disadvantaged learners could help develop the region's future professionals. They say students who might otherwise be unable to attend university could eventually qualify as doctors, teachers, engineers and other professionals whose skills would benefit their communities.

Local leaders have also called for scholarship opportunities to be distributed transparently, with clear eligibility requirements and a selection process based on academic performance and financial need. Youth activists in Iganga Town have urged the relevant authorities to consider the district's request, noting that prolonged interruptions to education can limit young people's employment prospects and professional development.

Parents' groups have similarly expressed willingness to cooperate with district authorities in identifying eligible students should the scholarship appeal receive a positive response. They argue that a transparent process would help ensure that assistance reaches academically deserving learners from financially struggling families rather than being distributed through personal or political connections.

However, the district's appeal remains a request for consideration, and the letter does not establish that additional scholarships have been approved or allocated to Iganga. APPEAL COPIED TO NATIONAL LEADERS To bring the matter to the attention of relevant government institutions, Isabirye copied the letter to the President of the Republic of Uganda, the Minister of Education and Sports, the Speaker of Parliament and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Other recipients included Members of Parliament representing Iganga District, the Chief Administrative Officer of Iganga District and the Resident District Commissioner of Iganga. The broad distribution of the appeal reflects the district leadership's effort to draw attention to the financial barriers facing students seeking access to higher education. If the request is considered favourably, the district would need to work with the relevant authorities to establish the applicable eligibility criteria, identify qualified applicants and communicate the available opportunities to families.

For many parents and students, the central concern is whether academic achievement can open the door to university education when household finances cannot meet the cost. The appeal also raises a broader question about equitable access to higher education support and how scholarship programmes can reach talented young people across different districts.

For Iganga's disadvantaged learners, access to financial assistance could provide an opportunity to continue their education, acquire professional skills and contribute to the development of their communities. As the district awaits consideration of its request, the proposed scholarships remain a sought-after opportunity for families hoping to ensure that poverty does not prevent their children from pursuing higher education.