KAMPALA — Mercy Aujo, a Senior Six student at Code High School in Seeta Bajjo, has become the first beneficiary of the “Bona Basome” Campaign, receiving UGX 1 million in school fees support from DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve Uganda.
The award was presented during an engagement that brought together school proprietors, headteachers and education stakeholders at Code High School, where the campaign was officially rolled out to support learners facing financial barriers to education.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over the cost of education, which remains one of the leading causes of school dropouts in Uganda. According to UNICEF, financial constraints continue to prevent many children from accessing and completing their education.
Speaking at the event, Samuel Matekha, Head of Marketing and Communications at DTB Uganda, said the Bona Basome Campaign was designed to provide practical support to families struggling with school fees while ensuring that learners remain in class.
“When financial constraints become a barrier to education, it is the future of our children that is placed at risk,” Matekha said. “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.”
He described Aujo’s award as the beginning of a broader nationwide effort to keep more children in school.
“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.
The Bona Basome Campaign was launched earlier this year as part of efforts to ease the burden of school fees on parents and guardians while promoting awareness of education financing solutions.
Denis Musinguzi, Chief Executive Officer of Furaha Finserve Uganda, said school fees remain a major challenge for many households, particularly at the beginning of academic terms.
“Many parents continue to face difficulties meeting school fees obligations, especially at the beginning of school terms,” Musinguzi said. “Through initiatives such as Bona Basome, we are providing meaningful support that enables children to stay in school while giving parents greater financial flexibility.”
The partnership between DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve Uganda, which began in 2025, offers affordable school fees financing products aimed at helping parents manage education costs without disrupting their children’s learning.
In addition to supporting families, the partnership provides schools with financing and school fees collection solutions designed to improve cash flow and strengthen operational sustainability.
Officials said the Bona Basome Campaign aims to disburse up to UGX 5.6 billion in education financing, reaching more than 3,203 schools and benefiting over 9,597 learners across Uganda.
Matekha said the initiative reflects DTB Uganda’s commitment to community empowerment and long-term national development through education.
“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,” he said.
Education stakeholders attending the event welcomed the initiative, saying targeted financial support for learners could play a significant role in reducing school dropout rates and improving access to quality education across the country.
The award to Aujo marks the first of several planned interventions under the Bona Basome Campaign as DTB Uganda and Furaha Finserve seek to expand educational opportunities for learners from financially constrained households.