KAMPALA — The Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with Brainchild Burson, has handed over high-tech laptops and scholastic materials worth Shs10 million to 20 beneficiaries of the Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship Programme.
The support, announced on March 12, 2026, is aimed at strengthening digital learning and research among students pursuing science and technology programmes at leading universities across Uganda.
The beneficiaries are among 20 scholars who received scholarships from the Airtel Africa Foundation on February 5, 2026, targeting talented students from underprivileged backgrounds enrolled at Makerere University, Uganda Christian University, Kyambogo University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and ISBAT University.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Airtel Towers, Airtel Uganda Human Resource Manager Flavia Lwanga urged the scholars to use the laptops to support their academic work, research and innovation.
“We are giving out these laptops to support our students in their studies and research so they do not have to incur additional costs at internet cafés. We strongly believe that the knowledge and skills they gain will enable them to make a meaningful contribution to the country,” she said.
Lwanga noted that the Tech Fellowship Programme aligns with the Airtel Africa Foundation’s FEED pillars—Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Protection and Digital Inclusion. She added that supporting students pursuing technology-related programmes contributes to bridging the digital divide while advancing Uganda’s digital transformation goals under Uganda Vision 2040.
In addition to the laptops, Brainchild Burson, part of Fireworks Advertising and communications partner to Airtel Uganda, contributed Shs10 million in scholastic support and internship opportunities for the scholars.
Speaking at the event, Walter Wafula, Chief Executive Officer of Fireworks Advertising, said the company was proud to partner with Airtel Africa Foundation to support the students’ academic journey.
“Today, we are proud to join the Airtel Africa Foundation in supporting these young scholars. As Brainchild Burson, we are contributing Shs10 million towards their academic success. Of this, Shs8 million will go towards scholastic materials, while Shs2 million will support internship and apprenticeship opportunities,” he said.
Wafula added that the four top-performing students will receive internship placements within the organisation in departments such as digital marketing and IT to help them gain practical workplace experience.
The scholars welcomed the support, noting that access to modern laptops would significantly improve their ability to study, conduct research and collaborate on academic projects.
One of the beneficiaries, Michael Kirinnya, a student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, said the laptop would greatly improve his coding and research work.
“I am grateful for the support from Airtel and Brainchild, and particularly excited about the hi-tech laptop, which will allow me to code faster. I have upgraded from a Pentium 4 with only two cores to a powerful machine with 10 cores and an Intel i7 processor,” he said.
The Airtel Africa Foundation Tech Fellowship Programme supports students from underprivileged backgrounds across Africa who are pursuing science and technology programmes. The initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide by equipping learners with tools that enhance education, research and innovation.
Through initiatives such as this, the Airtel Africa Foundation says it aims to help young people actively participate in the digital economy and contribute to Africa’s long-term development.