Full Scholarships for Tech Degrees 2026: Airtel Africa Foundation University Tech Scholarship (Uganda) — 20 Awards Covering Tuition Accommodation Materials and a Stipend

If you are a newly admitted first year undergraduate in Uganda planning to study IT, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, or Artificial Intelligence, this is the scholarship you want to read as if your future depends on it — because it just might. The Airtel Africa Foundation University Tech Scholarship 2026 will fully fund 20 students at selected Ugandan universities, covering the big-ticket items that make attending university possible: tuition, accommodation, academic materials, and a fixed stipend for core course expenses.

Full scholarships for tech degrees are rare. They remove the most common friction — money — so recipients can focus on coursework, projects, and building the technical skills employers crave. If you come from a financially constrained background and have the academic chops to start a demanding program, this award can change the trajectory of your education and early career. Note the deadline: December 18, 2025. That’s the hard stop; plan backward and submit early.

Below you’ll find a complete, hands-on guide: who should apply, what to prepare, how selection tends to work, insider tips that actually improve your chances, and a practical timeline that makes the deadline feel achievable rather than terrifying.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

This scholarship is practical and focused — it pays for tuition, covers accommodation, supplies academic materials, and provides a fixed stipend to help with course-related costs. Those four components remove the main financial barriers first year students face: paying tuition fees on time, finding safe and affordable accommodation, getting textbooks and lab materials, and having pocket funds for transport, printing, and small but frequent needs that otherwise force students to juggle work and study.

Beyond the line items, the award’s real value lies in what those items make possible. When you don’t have to spend evenings selling airtime or doing retail work, you can participate in lab work, attend evening coding clubs, complete internships, and build projects that become your professional portfolio. Think of the scholarship as buying you time and stability — the two most precious resources for a student building technical skills.

Airtel Africa Foundation has run scholarship and community programs before, and scholarship cohorts frequently create informal peer networks. Even if the official program description focuses on financial coverage, being part of a cohort often leads to study groups, peer mentorship, and local networking — opportunities you should exploit proactively once accepted.

Who Should Apply

This scholarship is aimed squarely at first year students who meet two conditions: academic eligibility and financial need. If you’re admitted to any of the listed universities in one of the eligible courses, are a Ugandan national, and cannot already be the beneficiary of another scholarship (including government-funded awards), you qualify to apply.

Real-world examples of ideal applicants:

• A student admitted to Computer Science at Makerere University who comes from a family that cannot pay university fees and who achieved two principal passes at UACE in one sitting.
• A student accepted to Data Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology who has led a high school programming club and can show a simple portfolio of projects (even informal ones).
• A young person starting Software Engineering at Kyambogo University who has demonstrated leadership in community tech outreach and can document financial need with a letter from a local authority.

If you are already enrolled in university (not a first year), this scholarship is not for you. If you hold any other scholarship, public or private, you must decline or lose eligibility. The program is competitive, but it’s designed for students who show both potential for success in technical fields and an inability to cover the costs themselves.

Eligibility Requirements (Explained Simply)

Applicants must:

• Be a Ugandan national.
• Be a new entrant — admitted as a first year student — at one of these universities: Makerere University, ISBAT University, Uganda Christian University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, or Kyambogo University.
• Be admitted to an eligible course: IT, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, or Artificial Intelligence.
• Meet the university’s minimum entry requirements (for example, at least two principal passes at UACE obtained in one sitting).
• Not be a current holder of another scholarship, including Government of Uganda funding.
• Demonstrate financial need by providing credible supporting documents or statements.

If you check the boxes above, don’t assume acceptance. The selection committee looks for a clear combination of academic readiness and genuine financial hardship.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Here’s where many applicants lose ground — not because they aren’t talented, but because they don’t present their story clearly. Treat your application like a job pitch for your future self.

1. Tell a concise, honest story about your financial need. Reviewers are practical people. A brief, well-documented statement that explains your household situation, tuition funding gaps, and why this scholarship will matter is more persuasive than a dramatic but vague narrative. Attach supporting evidence where possible: a letter from a local councilor, a guardian’s affidavit, or a utility bill that shows family hardship.

2. Lead with evidence of academic potential. Include your admission letter and certified UACE results. If you have any relevant extracurricular achievements (math club awards, coding competition participation), spotlight them. Don’t assume reviewers will infer competence from your admission alone — list clear academic indicators.

3. Show, don’t just tell, your interest in technology. A short portfolio can change a reviewer’s view. That could be a GitHub link to a basic project, screenshots of a school app you helped build, or a description of a community tech workshop you organized. Even modest projects show initiative and curiosity.

4. Choose referees who can speak specifically. A teacher who taught you mathematics or ICT and can cite examples of your technical aptitude will be more persuasive than a generic recommendation. Give referees a one-page summary of your goals so their letters are focused and concrete.

5. Polish your statement of purpose. Explain why you chose your course, what you plan to accomplish during your degree, and a 2–3 year vision for how you’ll use the scholarship to progress professionally. Specificity wins: say you plan to complete X projects, intern at Y type of company, or mentor Z high school students.

6. Prepare your documents early and in the correct format. Scan certified transcripts, prepare digital copies of your admission letter, and convert everything to PDF. Ensure file sizes meet upload limits and that any translations are certified if needed.

7. Submit early. The deadline is December 18, 2025. Submit at least 72 hours before the closing time to avoid internet issues, certification delays, or last-minute formatting problems.

These seven tips add up: strong documentation plus a clear, focused narrative will take you much further than vague pleas.

Application Timeline (Realistic and Actionable)

Work backward from December 18, 2025 and set internal deadlines. Here’s a practical schedule to keep you calm and prepared.

• 6 weeks before deadline (early November): Gather admission letter and UACE results. Ask teachers for recommendation letters and provide them with your résumé and a one‑page brief.
• 4 weeks before deadline (mid-November): Draft your statement of purpose and financial need statement. Get initial feedback from someone outside your immediate circle — a guidance counselor or mentor.
• 3 weeks before deadline (late November): Scan and certify documents (if your institution requires certified hard copies). Prepare PDFs and double-check file sizes.
• 2 weeks before deadline (early December): Complete the online application form on the Zoho portal. Upload documents and recheck that all fields are filled.
• 1 week before deadline: Share your complete application with a trusted reviewer for final proofreading. Confirm referees submitted letters (if letters are uploaded separately).
• 72 hours before deadline: Final submission. Do not wait until the last day.

If you run into a problem — a missing certified transcript, a referee delay — contact the program administrators immediately. Early communication can save an application.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

The scholarship expects a set of standard documents. Prepare digital, high-resolution PDFs and keep originals safe.

• Official admission letter from your university showing your course and that you are a first year entrant.
• Certified UACE results or equivalent documentation proving at least two principal passes obtained in one sitting.
• Proof of Ugandan nationality — national ID, passport, or birth certificate.
• A concise statement of financial need detailing household income, guardianship status, and why you require support; include supporting documents (local council letter, employer statement, utility bill, or affidavit).
• A personal statement or statement of purpose (SOP) describing your academic goals, why you chose your course, and how the scholarship will help you succeed academically and professionally.
• One or two recommendation letters (teachers, school principal, community leader) that can attest to your character and academic readiness.
• Curriculum vitae or résumé focusing on education, technical skills, and any projects or community work.
• Optional: a link to a portfolio or GitHub page if you have coding projects or relevant technical work.

Format tips: combine short documents into a single PDF per category to simplify uploads. If translations are necessary, include certified translations. Label files clearly (e.g., “Surname_UACE.pdf” or “Surname_SOP.pdf”) and ensure each file opens correctly before uploading.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Selection panels read dozens or hundreds of applications. The standout ones share common traits: clarity, evidence, and potential.

First, clarity — the selection panel should be able to see at a glance who you are, what you want to study, and why you need the scholarship. A neat, well-organized application with clearly labeled documents communicates respect for the reviewers’ time.

Second, evidence — academic proof (admission letter, UACE results) is basic; stronger applicants add demonstrable interest in tech: projects, competitions, or teaching experience. Even small things like contributing to a school website or leading a coding club suggest initiative.

Third, potential — commit to a short, credible plan of what you’ll do during and immediately after your studies. Concrete commitments (complete X internships, mentor Y students, build Z project) show you’re thinking beyond the first year and view the scholarship as an investment, not a handout.

Finally, credible need. If your household income is low, show it with documents. Vague claims of hardship are less persuasive than a simple, documented picture of financial constraints.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

Many good candidates falter on simple errors. Don’t be one of them.

• Missing or incomplete documents. Solution: use a checklist and confirm each item. Don’t submit without your admission letter and UACE results.
• Weak or generic recommendation letters. Solution: brief your referees. Provide them with examples and a one-page summary so their letters are specific.
• Overly long or vague personal statements. Solution: keep your SOP to the point — 500–800 words that cover motivation, plans, and need.
• Poorly formatted uploads or wrong file types. Solution: use PDFs, check file sizes, and test open each file before uploading.
• Waiting until the last minute. Solution: submit 72 hours early and build buffer time for certificate notarizations.

Fix these preventable problems and you’ll already be ahead of many applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non-Ugandan nationals apply? A: No. The scholarship requires Ugandan nationality.

Q: Can returning or continuing students apply? A: No. The program is for new entrants only — first year students admitted for the academic year.

Q: Can I hold another scholarship and still accept this one? A: No. Holding another scholarship, including Government of Uganda scholarships, disqualifies you.

Q: What if I don’t have certified copies yet? A: Get certified copies early. If you’re waiting on official certification, prepare other parts of the application and explain the delay in a short note; but do not submit incomplete documents.

Q: How will financial need be judged? A: Financial need is assessed from documentation and the credibility of your explanation. Provide local authority letters, utility bills, or income statements if possible.

Q: Are part-time or diploma students eligible? A: The scholarship targets full-time first year undergraduates in the listed degree programs. Diplomas and part-time programs are not eligible unless stated otherwise in the official criteria.

Q: When will winners be notified? A: Timelines for selection and notification are not specified in the public summary. Expect communication after the deadline; check the official portal for updates and contact points.

Q: Can I change university or course after getting the award? A: Any change after award needs explicit permission from the scholarship administrators. Do not assume flexibility; get approval in writing.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to take action? Follow these steps:

1. Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria: Ugandan national, first year admission at a listed university, admitted to an eligible tech program, and no existing scholarship.
2. Gather documents: admission letter, certified UACE results, proof of nationality, financial need evidence, SOP, CV, and recommendations.
3. Prepare PDFs and finalize your statement of purpose and referee letters.
4. Submit your application early through the official online form.

Ready to apply? Visit the official application page and submit your materials before December 18, 2025:

How to Apply

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and complete the Zoho application form:
https://forms.zohopublic.com/qsssourcing/form/AAFFELLOWSHIP/formperma/LSSjZ5Imi4jrDxdUJEz4rUkOGrDbHR4BZR5-TBxv9zQ

If you have questions after reading the program page, contact the Airtel Africa Foundation or the student services office at your university for guidance. Apply early, keep your files organized, and make your application a focused, evidence‑filled argument for why you should be one of the 20 scholars selected in 2026. Good luck — this is the kind of opportunity that makes years of study and hard work much easier to manage.