A Senior Six student at Code High School in Seeta Bajjo has received Shs1 million in school fees support under the Bona Basome Campaign, an initiative by DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve Uganda aimed at helping learners remain in school despite growing financial challenges faced by families.
Mercy Aujo became the first beneficiary of the campaign during an engagement attended by school proprietors, headteachers and other education stakeholders at the school.
The support is expected to ease her financial burden and enable her to continue her studies without interruption.
The award comes amid growing concerns over the cost of education in Uganda, with school fees remaining one of the leading causes of school dropout among children and young people.
According to UNICEF's 2024 policy note on overcoming challenges in Uganda’s education sector, insufficient funding is the leading reason learners drop out of school, with 67.1 percent of boys and 62.1 percent of girls aged between six and 24 citing financial constraints as the main barrier to accessing education.
Speaking at the event, DTB Uganda Head of Marketing and Communications Samuel Matekha said the Bona Basome Campaign was designed to address some of the financial challenges affecting access to education by providing support to both learners and their families.
“When financial constraints become a barrier to education, it is the future of our children that is placed at risk. Through the Bona Basome Campaign and our partnership with Furaha Finserve Uganda, we are helping families overcome these challenges by providing accessible education financing and direct support to learners such as Mercy,” Matekha said.
He noted that the support extended to Aujo marks the beginning of a broader initiative aimed at assisting more learners across the country.
“Today, we are pleased to award Mercy as the first beneficiary of the Bona Basome Campaign. We believe this support will go a long way in helping her pursue her education without interruption. As the campaign continues, we look forward to supporting more learners across the country and helping many more young people achieve their educational aspirations,” he added.
Launched earlier this year, the Bona Basome Campaign seeks to support parents and guardians struggling with school fees while increasing awareness of education financing solutions available through the DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve partnership.
Furaha Finserve Uganda Chief Executive Officer Denis Musinguzi said many parents continue to face difficulties meeting school fees obligations, particularly at the beginning of school terms.
“Many parents continue to face difficulties meeting school fees obligations, especially at the beginning of school terms. Through initiatives such as Bona Basome, we are providing meaningful support that enables children to stay in school while giving parents greater financial flexibility,” Musinguzi said.
Since partnering in 2025, DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve Uganda have been offering school fees financing solutions aimed at helping parents manage education costs while ensuring continuity in learning.
The partnership also provides financing and school fees collection solutions for schools to help improve cash flow management and strengthen operational sustainability.
Through the Bona Basome Campaign, the two institutions are targeting the disbursement of Shs5.6 billion in education financing, with plans to reach more than 3,203 schools and support over 9,597 learners across Uganda.
“At DTB Uganda, we believe that meaningful progress begins with empowering communities. Through our ‘Bank with Us, Bank on Us’ promise, we continue to develop innovative financial solutions that support families, unlock opportunities and contribute to Uganda’s long-term development through education,” Matekha said.