Just at a time when Makerere University is emersed in a sea of challenges like severe financial constraints and unending strikes by students and staff, the vice chancellor Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu has come out to say that he loves the institution whole heartedly.

Prof Ddumba-Ssentamu was speaking at a function that was held at Makerere Univeristy on Friday where MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) awarded 200 scholarhips to needy students to study different programmes at the same campus.

He explained that Makerere University has contributed alot to the social status he as now and will always serve it, no matter the opposition and challenges.

"Makere University has nurtured me to what I'm today and I'm really proud to be an Alumnus and vice chancellor of this great institution," the economics professor said.

Ddumba-Ssentamu also asked the students to always be grateful everyday for having received scholarships to study at Makerere, adding "failure to live to our academic expectations will lead to automatic expulsion from this Univeristy and loss of the scholarship because this university is committed to supporting MasterCard in all ways".

During the same event, the MCSFP coordinator, Dr Florence Nakayiwa, explained that the program is meant to support bright students from poor families.

"The scholars you see here were chosen on merit, highliting not only their academic potential but also the economic challenges that may hinder their pursuit for higher education as well," Nakayiwa said.

She added: "The 2016 cohort has 21 international scholars from Rwanda,  Burundi, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. It has 75 scholars directly transiting from BRAC, our secondary school partners. It also has 104 nationals from the wider Ugandan population."

According to Nakayiwa, MCFSP has a target of educating 1000 students from the stated African countries in a period of ten years - which started in 2013. The new scholars, she said, now join the 95 continuing students in second and third year.

Prof Ddumba-Ssentamu also thanked MCFSP executive for partnering with Makerere to educate needy students. He said that MCFSP and Makerere signed a contract in 2013
Dr Nakayiwa added that these students are expected to be the best performers in their respective courses because they are given all that they need to be at campus, including paying thier tuition, accommodation and even buying laptops for each one of them.

Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the chairperson of the committee that selected the successful applicants said that the process which started in January this year was not simple as they received 2109 applications but only had to get our the 200.

"We had to tough times reading several stories by some applicants because they were too devastating. We struggled holding back tears.

"We also also had had to travel to homes of the shortlisted students to ensure that we don't take sons of minsters. So the students you see here are the poorest of the poor," said Nawangwe, who is also the deputy vice chancellor (finance and administration)  at Makerere University.

The other selection committee member was Jolly Okumu (project manager) and  Tito Okumu.

One of the scholars, Ruth Nanyama, who is pursuing a bachelors degree of science in education, hailed MCFSP for the miracle done for her.

"At home, I'm the last born of six. I lost my dad in 1998 and since then, I have been struggling to study. I always dreamt of studying at Makerere University...I now thank MasterCard foundation making my dream come true," she narrated.

MCFSP was established in 2006. currently its CEO is Reeta Roy and It acquires its funds through partnering with other nonprofit and non-governmental organizations that focus on the key areas of Financial Inclusion and youth learning.

tusiime.chris20@gmail.com