Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, recently spoke about the rising number of students dropping out. He said this is caused by money problems, especially from sports betting.
During an award ceremony on March 12, 2024, at Makerere University School of Business, Prof. Nawangwe explained the issue. He said many dropouts happen because students can’t pay tuition fees. This is often because they spend money on sports betting.
“Our research found that around 1000 students can’t continue studying at Makerere University each year. This is mainly because they use their tuition money for sports betting,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Investigations have shown a pattern. Students get money from parents to pay fees. But they bet on sports hoping to make more money. This leads them to miss classes. Eventually, they drop out.
Sadly, these students lie to parents. They act like they’re graduating when really they dropped out long ago.
Makerere University is partnering with key groups – the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Prudential Uganda. Their goal? Tackle academic excellence and money troubles head-on. Cash prizes, mentoring, graduate training, CPA scholarships – these are the tools to advance students’ careers.
At the core, Makerere aims to dismantle barriers like high dropout rates. By offering avenues of academic and financial backing, the university cultivates an environment primed for student triumphs. Deserving pupils gain the means to fulfill their scholastic dreams, fostering well-rounded growth.
This afternoon I joined the best students from the recent graduation in the College of Business and Management Sciences as they received awards from our partners including Prudential Insurance, the ACCA Country Office and the EPRC. I thank our partners for this important show of… pic.twitter.com/Cb7qM3QDTw
— Barnabas Nawangwe (@ProfNawangwe) March 12, 2024
