Dokolo, Uganda | The Government of Uganda has secured 200 fully sponsored scholarship slots for Ugandan students seeking to pursue doctoral (PhD) studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban-Westville, South Africa, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s high-level human resource capacity.
Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, H.E Paul Amoru Omiat, said the scholarships are strictly reserved for Ugandan nationals and will cater only for PhD-level training.
He revealed that the first cohort of successful applicants is expected to commence studies in February next year.
“This is a significant milestone by the Government of Uganda in its commitment to invest in advanced education and build a skilled workforce that can drive national development,” Amoru said.
The ambassador made the remarks on Monday while attending the graduation ceremony of Dr. Ismael Ocen, who recently earned a PhD in Monitoring and Evaluation from the University of Johannesburg.
The event was held at Ongoceng Cell, Aderolongo Southern Ward, Bata Town Council in Dokolo District.
Amoru said his office will work closely with the Won Nyaci of Lango, Eng. Dr. Michael Moses Odongo Okune, to mobilise and support eligible students, particularly from the Lango Sub-region, to benefit from the scholarship opportunities.
He also disclosed that his office is collaborating with the royal household and the office of King Mswati III of Eswatini to facilitate exposure visits for cultural leaders from Lango.
According to him, the initiative will enable leaders to learn from other cultural systems abroad and bring back ideas that can support long-term development in the sub-region.
In his remarks, Dr. Ocen said he intends to work with the Lango cultural institution to prioritise education as a tool for social transformation.
He noted that limited education opportunities have contributed to rising youth involvement in crime and violence.
Makerere University lecturer Prof. Constant Okello Obura advised Dr. Ocen to use his research and academic expertise to address community development challenges and inform policy interventions.
Awitong George Angoli of Arak Ober described Dr. Ocen’s achievement as historic, noting that he is the first person in the clan to attain a PhD.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Kadhi of the Greater Lango Muslim District Administration, Sheikh Muhammad Yusuf Balinda, said the achievement reflects a positive shift within the Muslim community towards embracing formal education.
“In the past, many Muslims focused on trade at the expense of education, but this mindset has changed. Parents are now prioritising schooling for their children,” Sheikh Balinda said.
The Won Nyaci of Lango, Eng. Dr. Odongo Okune, emphasised that earning a PhD requires discipline, focus and long-term dedication to a specific area of expertise, rather than reliance on natural intelligence alone.
He urged cultural leaders involved in scholarship programmes to avoid religious discrimination and instead unite to address pressing challenges affecting young people, particularly drug abuse and crime.
According to Eng. Dr. Odongo Okune, Tekwaro Lango has so far supported more than 1,000 vulnerable learners to access formal education and vocational skills training.
The new scholarships are expected to further boost Uganda’s pool of highly trained professionals and strengthen research capacity across key sectors of the economy.
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