Mbale, Uganda: The Umukuka III of the Bamasaaba, His Highness Jude Mike Mudoma, has called on learners across Masaabaland to embrace government-funded higher education loan schemes and other support programs to prevent dropping out of university over a lack of tuition.
Delivering the message through Mr. Steven Masiga, spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Umukuka III, applauded the leadership and teachers of Mbale School for the Deaf Senior Secondary School for their remarkable progress in academic standards, particularly in UCE and UACE examinations over the past three years.
Speaking to students during a courtesy visit on Monday morning, Mr. Masiga urged them to form Bamasaaba students’ associations as a collective voice and to seek leadership roles regardless of disability.
He cited Hon. Alex Ndeezi’s long-standing representation of Central Uganda in Parliament as an inspiring example that disability does not define one’s destiny. “The cultural institution has a duty to guide learners on culture, but also to mobilise Bamasaaba to benefit from all government programs like Universal Secondary Education, free healthcare, and now the higher education loan scheme,” Mr. Masiga said.
The Bukuka spokesperson explained that the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme, launched in 2024, enables learners to access government loans to pursue courses in sciences and tourism without discrimination, including those with hearing impairments.
“The essence of this scheme is to support students so parents don’t have to sell their land or property to pay tuition,” he emphasised.
Mr. Masiga also encouraged learners to stay grounded in the Bamasaaba culture rather than copying harmful lifestyles: “Culture is your star, follow it, and it will lead you safely wherever you wish to go,” he told the students, cautioning them against smoking, alcohol, and reckless sexual behaviour.
In response, learners requested that Bukuka and the cultural leadership continue visiting schools across Masaabaland to offer mentorship and cultural guidance.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
