The Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship program seeks to empower the next generation of innovation and technology leaders by offering scholarships to 20 students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. These scholarships are specifically targeted at students aspiring to careers in IT, computer science, software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
Applicants must be admitted as first-year students at Makerere University, ISBAT University, Uganda Christian University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, or Kyambogo University. The program’s comprehensive support package covers tuition fees, accommodation, academic materials, and a fixed stipend to help cover essential course expenses. Human capital management firm Q-Sourcing Servtec has partnered with Airtel to oversee the application and selection process.
The initiative comes at a time when UNESCO reports a significant increase in STEM enrolment at the lower secondary level in Uganda, driven largely by the government’s free secondary education policy and targeted access expansion programs. However, enrolment at A-level and university levels remains disproportionately low, raising concerns about the country’s capacity to develop a skilled workforce. This gap between early interest and sustained participation in STEM is particularly troubling given Uganda’s high youth unemployment rate, estimated between 64% and 70% by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
UN agencies emphasise that careers in STEM are more than academic pursuits; they offer pathways to meaningful employment, innovation, and socio-economic mobility. Airtel Uganda’s managing director, Soumendra Sahun, highlighted that the fellowship aims to address the country’s skills shortage and bolster its innovation ecosystem.
“The fellowship is designed to close the digital skills gap and strengthen Uganda’s innovation pipeline,” said Sahun.
The company also noted that the program aligns with its broader commitment to providing young Ugandans with opportunities to unlock their potential.
