Education is one of the most effective means of empowering women. It imparts skills to
them, which paves their way to employment, with the associated financial and economic
benefits. It also increases awareness of their rights. Unfortunately, women’s university
education in Uganda requires heavy investment, which is beyond the incomes of most women
and their parents or guardians.
This paper is a product of research that sought to assess the gains from, and challenges in,
sponsoring women’s university education using Makerere University as a case study.
The motivation for the study was the concern about women’s empowerment, which is, in
turn, derived from the need to eliminate or, at least, minimize gender inequalities.
The approach or methodology used involved collecting and analyzing both quantitative and
qualitative data using appropriate techniques.
Gains assessed by the study include:
• Increase in the enrolment of women
• Increased availability of opportunities for admission to Universities
• Increase in the number of women university graduates
• Increased gender sensitivity or sensitiveness
• Establishment of a gender mainstreaming committee at Makerere University
• Increased attention to gender issues by Ministry of Education
Challenges/handicaps identified by the study include:
• Inability of students to pay for their university education
• Lack of many outstanding girls secondary schools
• Problems associated with loans for education
• High university overhead costs
• Lack of insurance policies
• Academic problems
The recommended actions center on measures to improve the funding of women’s education
in pubic universities in Uganda.