Thirty aspiring nurses and midwives from Hoima and Kikuube districts have been awarded full scholarships by Total Energies Uganda, in partnership with the Winning Generation Organization.

The students are set to begin their two-and-a-half-year nursing and midwifery training at the Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery starting Monday, July 21, 2025. This initiative covers full tuition and related academic costs, providing a life-changing opportunity for the beneficiaries to pursue medical education and build careers serving their communities.

Fifteen students were selected from each district as part of Total Energies’ commitment to empower youth and build local capacity in oil-affected regions of the Albertine Graben.

The scholarships are part of a broader campaign celebrating Total Energies’ 100th anniversary, benefiting a total of 100 students across six districts, which include Buliisa, Nwoya, Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, and Pakwach. While Buliisa and Nwoya, located near major oil operations, received 20 scholarship slots each, the remaining districts, including Hoima and Kikuube, received 15 slots each.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Pennina Aheebwa, Director of Economic and National Content Monitoring at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), encouraged communities to embrace opportunities arising from Uganda’s growing oil and gas sector.

“Whether in health, agriculture, tourism, or transport, these investments by Total Energies and its partners are meant to uplift lives. Let us embrace them wholeheartedly,” Aheebwa said.

She emphasized that the scholarship program reflects a strategic investment in human capital, aligning with national efforts to strengthen healthcare services, especially in rural and under priveledged areas.

Innocent Mbabazi, the program coordinator, underscored that the initiative goes beyond funding education.

“This program is about preparing a generation of health professionals who will serve their communities,” he said.

He also urged the scholarship recipients to remain focused and disciplined, warning that poor performance or indiscipline could lead to termination of the scholarship.

The beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity. Sunday Kennedy from Kigorobya Sub-county said, “Becoming a nurse has always been my dream, and this scholarship is giving me the chance to make it a reality.”

Similarly, another beneficiary from Buhanika called Norah Kaahwa expressed her joy.

“It is a great relief for my family. We were worried about how we would manage tuition, but now I can fully focus on learning,” Kaahwa stated.

Parents and guardians, many of whom face financial challenges, welcomed the initiative with heartfelt appreciation.

Robert Kyomuhendo, the Senior Inspector of Schools for Hoima, praised the scholarship program for easing financial burdens and urged parents to continue supporting their children throughout their studies.

With this support, the scholarship recipients have not only gained an opportunity to transform their own lives but are also poised to return as skilled health professionals, contributing significantly to sustainable development and improved healthcare delivery in the Albertine region.