Kampala — The stiff competition in education has led to many students who obtain reasonably good marks failing to get admitted at university on Government sponsorship.

This was noted by Martha Muhwezi, the co-ordinator for the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Uganda (FAWE), at the graduation party of 27 girls. The girls were sponsored by the NGO during their secondary school education.

Muhwezi welcomed the proposed student's loan scheme, which she said was likely to help many needy students.

The scheme, intended to extend educational loans to privately sponsored students at university level, will be initiated this year. Sh10b has been earmarked to cover the next three years.

Muhwezi explained that FAWE has been implementing scholarship programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Irish Aid, the Canadian Kenny Family and Busitema University Mvule Trust since 1999.

Until recently, FAWE has only been catering for students up to A'level, which Muhwezi said was a disadvantage for those who failed to get Government sponsorship at university.

"Since the FAWE-sponsored students are all needy, they cannot afford university fees and other related expenses," she said.

The graduands obtained degrees from Makerere University, Uganda Christian University Mukono and Gulu University.

The function, which attracted many other former FAWE beneficiaries, was held at the FAWE home in Bukoto on Friday.

Matilda Apiyo, who graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Law from Makerere, urged fellow FAWE beneficiaries to pay back to the organisation by mentoring young students still under the programme.

"For those of you who have employment, please contribute to their education," she urged.

Natasha De Marcken, a USAID senior education advisor, said the US was set to create a new generation of African women leaders.

She explained that this had already begun through the Ambassadors Girl's Scholarship Programme, which has been sponsoring needy intelligent girls at secondary school level since May 2005. The USAID funded programme has so far spent $1.768m on scholarships for 4,745 girls.

"These girls should know that their success will come from how hard and determined they work," Marcken said.