Kampala, Uganda: The Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC), under the stewardship of Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, has secured 100 bursaries from St Lawrence University to support students seeking higher education.
The groundbreaking news was revealed by Hajjat Namyalo on Wednesday, describing the opportunity as an intervention for students whose academic ambitions could be constrained by the cost of university education.
The 100 bursaries will be made available to selected students through an arrangement between St Lawrence University and the ONC, with further details on the courses covered, eligibility requirements, application procedure and selection criteria expected to be communicated by the ONC in the coming weeks.
Namyalo said partnerships between educational institutions and public-facing programmes can help expand opportunities for young people who might otherwise struggle to progress beyond secondary school.
The latest initiative adds an education component to the ONC’s wider efforts to mobilise opportunities for young Ugandans, particularly those facing economic barriers to education and skills development.
The announcement also builds on previous education-related interventions associated with Namyalo and the ONC, including efforts to connect Ugandan students to scholarship opportunities abroad and support learners at institutions of higher education.
In February and March 2026, Hajjat Namyalo led an ONC Ramadan outreach targeting Muslim students at several universities, including Kyambogo University, Makerere University Business School, the Islamic University in Uganda, Kampala International University, Kampala University, Muteesa I Royal University and Buganda Royal Institute.
The outreach combined food support for students observing Ramadan with messages encouraging them to remain focused on their studies. At the Islamic University in Uganda, Namyalo also pledged to cover the remaining tuition fees of a second-year student, according to reports on the initiative.
The ONC’s engagement with universities has also been presented as part of a broader effort to help young people access government programmes and opportunities for economic empowerment.
Namyalo’s education-related interventions have not been limited to university scholarships.
In October 2024, she donated Shs3 million towards infrastructure development at Namasuba College of Commerce during the institution’s graduation ceremony. She also pledged support in the form of practical skilling equipment, including sewing machines, hair dryers and mechanics’ toolboxes. The intervention was framed around strengthening practical skills and helping young people become more economically self-reliant.
The ONC has similarly highlighted vocational and practical skills as part of its wider youth empowerment agenda. In 2024, Namyalo urged young people to embrace hands-on skills, arguing that vocational training can help address unemployment and support job creation.
The office has also previously supported vocational institutions serving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2023, Namyalo responded to an appeal from Excel Vocational Training Institute after a fire destroyed property at the institution, donating blankets, mattresses and cement. The institution said many of its students came from underprivileged families and benefited from bursaries.
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