Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (3rd L), Guild President-H.E. Shamim Nambassa (C), Stanbic Bank Uganda Chief Executive-Ms Anne Juuko (4th R), Sam Mwogeza-Stanbic (R), Simon Nkuyahaga-HGZ Technologies (2nd L), Rt. Hon. Gatuya Mucyo (L) and other officials after the launch of the Laptop Loan Scheme on 10th Mar 2022.
The long-awaited Laptop Loan Scheme for Students and Staff at Makerere University finally got underway on Thursday 10th March 2022 at ceremony presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Stanbic Bank Uganda (SBU) Chief Executive (CE), Ms. Anne Juuko. On hand to witness the ceremony was the Guild President H.E. Shamim Nambassa and Speaker Rt. Hon. Gatuya Mucyo.
The Scheme will enable students and staff to access an unsecured loan to the tune of UGX 5million payable over a period of three years or less, at an interest of 13% per annum. The monthly payments which start from as low as UGX 71,000 will also cover insurance for the laptops against theft and damage. The launch follows the signing of an MoU between Makerere and Stanbic on 15th February 2022.
“The documentation has been kept very simple” remarked Sam Mwogeza, Head, Consumer and High Net Worth, SBU. “We’ll have a very simple application form, a nomination form and detail of the parent’s account for where payments will be settled. Our team at the branch (Makerere) are fully available to walk you through these consultations” he added.
According to the vendor HGZ Technologies represented by Simon Nkuyahaga, the laptops will come in three categories based on processing power. The basic ones will have two (2) cores/processors, mid-range ones will have four (4) cores/processors and the high-end ones will have eight (8) cores/processors. Each laptop will also have a battery life of eight (8) to ten (10) hours, extendable to fourteen (14) hours using an extra backup battery.
“We’ll have Microsoft 356 for students for one year so that all your documents are automatically stored in the cloud… we also give a one year warranty meaning we will have a team here to support technical issues with the laptop, at the same time we will train some students from Computer Science through internship with us so that they can support you” added Simon Nkuyahaga.
Additionally, all laptops purchased through the scheme will be automatically connected to the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) for WiFi access to educational websites. For students who live in areas with irregular access to electricity, add-ons such as solar bundles may be purchased to provide up to 24 hours of backup power.
“We are proud to be working with you to provide real solutions to real problems and I want to start by thanking you Professor (Nawangwe) for giving us a chance to work with you and your team. Through this partnership we say that ‘Impossible is nothing'” remarked Ms. Anne Juuko.
The Chief Executive shared that the Scheme has been structured with the students at the centre, so as to enable them achieve their academic and professional goals. She therefore urged the student body to give timely feedback that can SBU work with the vendor to further refine customer support and service delivery.
Ms. Juuko said that the scheme is an answer to SBU’s observation that brilliant young people all over Uganda lack the necessary tools such as computers to help them embrace opportunities in digital spaces. She nevertheless asked the students to take good care of their laptops so as to make the most of their parent’s investment, noting that the devices can serve them well for up to five years.
“So that long after you have paid pack the loan, you can still use this device. But beyond that, if you do it well, you enable us to continue to provide this service to other people out there. This is a volume game; the more of you subscribe, the lower the unit cost” explained Ms. Juuko.
Addressing himself to the students, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe concurred with the SBU CE’s assertion that Africa is on the move largely due to its young people.
“You are the cream of Africa because you are in the top University and this top university takes the cream. And so the future of Africa is in your hands; you either make Africa better or you break it” counselled the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed his gratitude to Stanbic and the CE in particular for the vibrancy exhibited in addressing issues that affect Uganda’s development. “The initiative you took to ensure that the Education sector comes back to life is extremely important.”
Earlier, Ms. Juuko had shared that SBU, in a bid to revive the education sector follow the devastating effects of COVID-19, had forgiven schools a full year of interest for 2021 on all loan repayments.
The Vice Chancellor furthermore thanked SBU for, without hesitation, agreeing to fund the Laptop Loan Scheme with favourable terms that cover insurance and servicing. “Stanbic has made this so affordable.”
Prof. Nawangwe therefore called upon the Guild Leadership to sensitise the student body about the unique offer. “One thing you need to understand is that with a computer and with data, you are a truly global citizen; you can attend classes anywhere in the world, get notes from any university if you want to compare and broaden your knowledge, and apply for jobs after university anywhere in the world… Take up the opportunity and look boldly into the future.”
H.E. Shamim Nambassa on her part shared that closure of the University due to COVID-19 marked a particularly tough time for students, due to limited access to laptops. “We kept demanding and asking for where the laptop bank is, but little did we know that Stanbic Bank would bring us the laptop bank. Thank you so much.”
The Guild President particularly thanked Stanbic Bank for redefining the education sector by ushering students into the digital era at an affordable cost. This, she noted, would help them become true agents of the transformative society that Makerere University seeks to build as she celebrates 100 years of existence this year.
“I want to thank the University Administration for bringing this forward for us as a student fraternity, and I want to call upon each and every student in Makerere University and let you know that the cry is over” H.E. Nambassa summed up.
Addressing guests at the launch, Guild Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gatuya Mucyo reiterated the Students’ appreciation to Prof. Nawangwe and the University Management for initiating the partnership, as well as Ms. Anne Juuko for thinking about and giving back to her alma mater. He equally thanked the Student Leadership for embracing the idea and the student body for exhibiting great willingness to participate in the scheme since the MoU was signed in February.
He nevertheless requested SBU to avail more opportunities to students in form of internships beyond the proposed on-campus laptop service centres. He reassured the gathering of the Student Guild’s readiness to mobilise and sensitise the student body about the Laptop Loan Scheme.
To secure your laptop, visit Stanbic Bank Makerere or any other branch with your parent/guardian and fill out the required forms.
For further enquiries call +256 312 224600 or 0800 250250 (Toll Free)
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta is received upon arrival at Makerere University by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd Right) poses for a group photo during the courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor with Left to Right: Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Ms. Sarah Kagingo and Guild President-H.E. Churchill James Ssentamu.
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
Left to Right: The Vice President-H.E. Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Emeritus-Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Hon. Matthew Rukikaire and other dignitaries follow proceedings.
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma holders admitted under the Government Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
Under the Diploma Holders Government Sponsorship Scheme admission does not exceed 5% of the intake capacity to the respective Degree Programme.
The list can be accessed by following the link below:
Are you a researcher or student working in protein-related research, structural biology, or bioinformatics?
The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences (ACE) Uganda with support from Google DeepMind, invites researchers and students seeking to integrate AlphaFold into their work to apply for the AlphaFold Workshop to be held at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda from 16th to 20th June 2025.