Kampala: The British High Commission hosted a joint send-off reception today in honour of Uganda’s 2025/26 cohort of Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars, celebrating their academic achievements and future leadership potential as they prepare to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.
This year, 13 Ugandan scholars have been awarded the UK Government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship, while 21 scholars have been awarded under the Commonwealth Scholarship programme, with further PhD and fellowship awards expected in the coming weeks. The scholars will be heading to top UK universities to undertake master’s and doctoral studies across a wide range of disciplines including public health, climate change law, molecular biology, economics, engineering, and linguistics.
Speaking at the reception, The British High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Lisa Chesney, congratulated the scholars and encouraged them to make the most of the academic, cultural, and networking opportunities that the UK offers:
“These scholarships are more than academic awards — they are investments in future leaders. We are proud to see Ugandans continue to compete successfully in these highly competitive global programmes, and we look forward to the impact they will make, both in the UK and when they return to contribute to Uganda’s development.”
The reception brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports, the British Council, members of the Chevening and Commonwealth Alumni Associations, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Windle International, among others.
Also present was a team from Prudential Insurance, who for the last three years have been sponsoring an additional scholar for the Chevening Scholarship. This year’s Prudential-sponsored scholar will be studying Economics and Finance at the University of Leeds.
Scholars had the opportunity to network with alumni, gain practical advice, and hear first-hand experiences from former recipients. Among the notable alumni present was Mr Eldad Kansiime, the first Ugandan to receive the Chevening Scholarship in 1983.
The UK Government, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), funds both the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships. These programmes reflect the UK’s long-standing commitment to supporting human capital development and strengthening higher education partnerships across the Commonwealth.
Since 1983, over 330 Ugandans have received Chevening Scholarships, while the Commonwealth Scholarship programme, which began in Uganda in 1959, has supported more than 1,900 Ugandan scholars to date.
“Education is a cornerstone of the UK-Uganda relationship,” said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education “We are proud to support ambitious Ugandans who are working to drive positive change in their communities and professions.”
As they embark on this next chapter, the scholars join a global alumni network of nearly 100,000 professionals across more than 160 countries — a community of changemakers committed to building a better, more inclusive, and sustainable world.
