Retain Uganda’s work force, govt urged

KAMPALA. Madhvani Foundation has launched its annual scholarship scheme for 2015/2016, with calls to retain Uganda’s trained work force in the country.
Gabriel Opio, the chairman of the Foundation scholarship committee says Uganda has for the longest time suffered shortage of labour and brain drain especially in the science and technology fields due to unaffordable educational costs for competitive science and technological courses.
“Although other government organisations have come out to offer such scholarships to our students, many times they study from those respective countries and required to practice there for specific periods of time leaving our country in lack of skilled practitioners,” said Mr Opio said in Kampala on Wednesday.
The fund, which has been increased from Shs650 million to Shs 700 million will benefit mainly students interested in science related courses. Madhvani Foundation has so far spent Shs4 billion on 2,000 students since 2003.
Mr Opio said the science and technical disciplines to be sponsored include; Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Actuarial Science, Architecture, Veterinary medicine, Commerce, Hotel Management, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, food science and technology, information technology, environment and medicine.
He also called upon the scholarship beneficiaries to use the opportunity availed to them seriously.
“We do not want to waste money on people who are not going to complete their studies. We do not spend on mediocres and that is why we consider continuing students. However, interested persons have to be active. If you want the scholarship, then you should look for it,” Opio cautioned.
One of the beneficiaries of the Madhvani scholarship scheme 2011/2013 explained how he has benefitted from the scholarship.
“I have been able to go through school and now I lead Youth Work Initiative Uganda (YAWI) which seeks to address youth unemployment in the country,” Muganzi said.

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