Parliament Calls for Review of University District Quota Sponsorship Scheme

Kampala, Uganda, July 14, 2026 - Parliament has adopted a motion urging the government to review the university district quota sponsorship scheme, with legislators arguing that the current allocation formula does not adequately address inequalities in access to higher education. The motion, tabled by Bardege-Layibi MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, seeks reforms to increase opportunities for students from poor, rural, and underserved districts seeking government-sponsored university education. Mapenduzi argued that the district quota scheme, introduced in 2004 to promote equitable access to higher education, has lost part of its original purpose because allocations are largely determined by district population size. He said smaller rural districts continue to receive fewer government sponsorship slots despite facing greater educational challenges, limiting opportunities for disadvantaged students. Under the current government sponsorship arrangement, about 4,000 students are admitted annually to public universities. Of these, 3,000 slots, representing 75 percent, are allocated through the national merit scheme, while 896 slots are reserved for the district quota system. The remaining positions are shared between the sports scheme, which receives 40 slots, and the special needs scheme, which receives 64 slots. State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo told Parliament that the number of students benefiting through the district quota system is higher than the figures presented in the motion. He said that under the Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme, 1,228 out of 2,048 students selected in the current academic year were admitted through the district quota arrangement. Despite the clarification, legislators supported the proposed review, maintaining that the current formula continues to disadvantage students from rural and marginalised communities. The motion was adopted with amendments after Muyingo assured Parliament that government would consider and implement the recommendations, depending on available resources. The review is expected to focus on creating a more equitable sponsorship model that better supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds and strengthens access to university education across Uganda.