The Airtel Africa Foundation has unveiled 20 students awarded fully funded scholarships worth over shs 3.85 billion to pursue science and technology degree programmes at various universities across Uganda.
The scholarships, which take effect in February 2026, target academically gifted students from underprivileged backgrounds and form part of the Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship, a continental initiative aimed at expanding access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The fellowship seeks to address financial and skills-related barriers that limit the participation of young Africans in the digital economy.
Beneficiaries will study at leading higher education institutions, including Makerere University, Kyambogo University, ISBAT University, Uganda Christian University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Speaking during the unveiling of the selected students, Airtel Uganda Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Soumendra Sahu, said the programme is designed to ensure that financial hardship does not hinder talent and ambition.
“Today marks a new chapter in the lives of 20 remarkable young Ugandans, the recipients of the Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship. Our mission is to create a tangible and lasting impact by ensuring that no bright mind is left behind due to financial limitations,” Mr Sahu said.
He added that the Foundation is committed to empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders who will drive Africa’s digital transformation.
“Technology is the language of progress. By equipping these students with education and skills, we are investing in people and solutions that will transform communities, industries, and nations,” he noted.
The fellowship represents a significant long-term investment in digital education, with a total value of approximately shs 3.85 billion, spread over four years.
One of the beneficiaries, Edgar Baluku, a student at Uganda Christian University, described the scholarship as a life-changing opportunity that will enable him to pursue a career in telecommunications engineering.
“I am very excited about this opportunity. Like many students, I have struggled to raise school fees. This scholarship gives me the chance to pursue my dreams and make my parents and my entire clan proud,” Baluku said.
The Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship is part of the Foundation’s broader strategy to promote education and digital inclusion across the continent by investing in young people with the potential to shape Africa’s future.
Mr Sahu said the initiative builds on Airtel Africa’s wider social investment in education, including partnerships such as the Airtel–UNICEF collaboration, which has connected more than 84,000 learners in 246 schools across Uganda to digital learning platforms.