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At least 1000 students are dropping out of the university every year, due to sports betting.
This staggering revelation was made this Tuesday afternoon by the Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.
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“We are losing at least 1000 students who fail to complete their courses annually and the main excuse we are getting is failure to pay school fees,” Nawangwe said.
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“But our investigations have shown that those people have not really failed to raise school fees. They actually get the fees from their parents but they want to invest it in betting.
“So many of them of course end up losing it and they start telling their parents stories; others even invite their parents on graduation day when their names are not on the graduation list.”
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Nawangwe was speaking at the function held to recognize the best-performing Bachelor of Science (Actuarial Studies) who were sponsored by Prudential Assurance Uganda.
Sports betting shops are booming in Uganda, with a young population drawn to the promise of quick riches.
Many can indeed be found around Makerere University and near student hostels.
A study by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) indicates a significant number of Ugandan youth gamble, often with limited resources.
This can fuel financial strain and even lead to crime, as some chase losses. With unemployment rates high, experts urge stricter regulations to protect vulnerable youth from the pitfalls of sports betting.