Kampala: TECHzMagazine – News Desk
The Airtel Africa Foundation has launched the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship in Kampala, committing Shs 3.85 billion to fully fund 20 Ugandan STEM undergraduates from low-income backgrounds. The comprehensive scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, academic materials, and a living stipend, while also providing industry mentorship to prepare students for leadership roles in Africa’s digital economy. The transparent selection process was managed in partnership with human resources agency Q-Sourcing Servtec.
The inaugural cohort features first-year students admitted to Makerere University, ISBAT University, Uganda Christian University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Kyambogo University. These scholars are pursuing critical future-forward disciplines, including Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Software Engineering. Airtel Uganda CEO Soumendra Sahu emphasized that this financial commitment directly supports the Government’s Digital Vision 2040, aiming to bridge the local digital skills gap by developing a robust pipeline of local tech experts.
The selected scholars are already focused on solving real-world African challenges. Makerere’s Elisha Alvin Bifandhuha aims to use AI to transform local healthcare and energy, while ISBAT’s Jordan Akatuha Byaruhanga is focused on securing Uganda’s critical network infrastructure. Alongside peers like Esther Kisakye Faith, Melissa Atugonza Ateenyi, and Edgar Baluku – who are innovating in civil registration and digital mental health – these 20 students represent the start of the Foundation’s broader pan-African mission to support 1,000 tech students annually by 2030.
