The Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, has officially opened the 37th Joint Admissions Board (JAB) selection exercise for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The selection exercise, which is being conducted at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), brings together officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Joint Admissions Board and representatives of more than 30 other tertiary institutions.
The exercise is aimed at selecting eligible students for admission to other tertiary institutions under the Government sponsorship programme for the 2026/2027 academic year.
According to the Commissioner in charge of Scholarships at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Hajji Muzamiru Mukwatampola about 35,000 students applied for Government sponsorship, with approximately 20,000 meeting the required eligibility criteria.
However, he said the Government currently has about 3,000 available sponsorship slots, making the selection exercise critical in ensuring that the available opportunities are awarded to eligible and deserving students.
The Commissioner for University Education, Timothy Ssejjoba, said the Government remains committed to expanding opportunities in tertiary and higher education institutions as part of its efforts to increase access to education and equip Ugandans with the skills required to contribute to national development.
He noted that the Government continues to focus on expanding opportunities in technical and other tertiary institutions as Uganda works to strengthen education and skills development across the country.
Michael Wanyama, Commissioner at the Higher Education Students Financing Board, explained the requirements for students seeking financial support through the Government’s student loan scheme, including those intending to pursue further studies.
The Chairperson of the Joint Admissions Board, Prof. Elly Katunguka Rwakishaya, commended the Government for its continued investment in education and for creating opportunities for Ugandan students to access tertiary and higher education.
While officially opening the selection exercise, Acting Minister Muyingo urged members of the Joint Admissions Board to conduct the process with integrity, transparency and fairness.
He cautioned officials against corruption and bribery, calling for the available Government-sponsored places to be awarded strictly to students who meet the required criteria.
Dr. Muyingo also urged heads of tertiary and higher education institutions to ensure that the current intake is properly managed and that institutions adhere to the laws, regulations and standards governing the education sector.
He further called upon institutional leaders to ensure that students and staff understand and comply with the relevant regulations, while safeguarding Government infrastructure, buildings and equipment provided to support education and training.
In a message of appreciation, the Principal of Jinja Medical Laboratory Training Institute, Dr. Moses Ibwala, commended the Government of Uganda, under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for its continued efforts to expand access to education and improve the quality of learning across the country.
Dr. Ibwala said Government programmes such as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) had played an important role in expanding access to education for Ugandans.
He encouraged Ugandans to embrace the education opportunities provided by Government and take advantage of available programmes to acquire knowledge and skills.
Dr. Ibwala also commended Acting Minister Muyingo for his accessibility and commitment to supporting education institutions whenever his intervention is required.
The 37th JAB selection exercise is part of the Government’s continued efforts, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, to expand access to tertiary and higher education and ensure that available sponsorship opportunities are allocated transparently and fairly to eligible students.
