The Mastercard Foundation has announced a new round of scholarship opportunities at Makerere University for the 2025/2026 academic year, targeting academically talented yet economically disadvantaged students across Uganda and the African continent.
Through its partnership with Makerere University, the Foundation will award 190 undergraduate and 11 master’s scholarships. The programme is designed to support Ugandan nationals, refugees, students with disabilities, internally displaced youth, and other marginalized groups, providing them with full financial, academic, and social support throughout their studies.
To qualify for the undergraduate scholarship, applicants must have applied for admission under the private sponsorship scheme at Makerere University. They should have completed advanced secondary education in Africa, hold a second-class or credit diploma from a recognized institution, or passed the Makerere University mature age entry exams in 2023 or 2024. Applicants must be under 28 years old, except for refugees, displaced persons, and students with disabilities, whose age limit is 32.
For master’s scholarships, applicants must be admitted to Makerere University’s main campus and have completed their undergraduate studies in an African country. They must be under 35 years, or under 40 if they are refugees or students with disabilities. All applicants must demonstrate financial need, leadership potential, and a commitment to community service, and must not hold other scholarships or prior degrees at the same level.
Adrian Bukenya, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation in Uganda, emphasized the Foundation’s focus on Africa’s youth. Speaking at a recent award ceremony at Makerere, he said, “This is not just about access to education—it’s a strategic decision to invest in young people because Africa is the future of the global workforce.”
He noted that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program—launched in Uganda in 2012—has impacted over 20,000 scholars and young people by removing financial barriers and promoting leadership. “We are now beginning the second cohort. You have to make a difference in your communities. Do not take this opportunity for granted,” he urged.
The program is part of the Foundation’s broader Young Africa Works initiative, which aims to enable 30 million young people in Africa, including three million in Uganda, to access dignified work by 2030. In Uganda, the Foundation focuses on sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, hospitality, creative industries, and the digital economy—all identified as key drivers for job creation.
Since 2008, the Foundation has worked in Uganda to support youth access to education, financial services, and skills development. By the end of 2023, their efforts had facilitated employment for over 850,000 young Ugandans, 57% of whom were women.
The Scholars Program collaborates with local partners including Makerere University, BRAC Uganda, and FAWE Uganda, fostering inclusive education for underserved groups. Recently, over 1,000 new scholarships were awarded at Makerere, with 70% allocated to young women and 25% to refugees.
The renewed partnership between Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University runs from 2023 to 2034. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the university’s website for full details and apply before the deadline.