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Government Expands Higher Education Access as 2,790 Students Secure Loans for 2026/2027

Ssemaganda Moses Hope
By Ssemaganda Moses Hope


Government Expands Higher Education Access as 2,790 Students Secure Loans for 2026/2027
Government Expands Higher Education Access as 2,790 Students Secure Loans for 2026/2027

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The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, has approved 2,790 students to benefit from the Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme (HESFS) for the 2026/2027 academic year, as part of continued efforts to expand access to higher education for academically qualified students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The successful beneficiaries were officially released on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at an event presided over by the Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo, who officially released the list of successful student loan beneficiaries under the 13th cohort of the Government Students’ Loan Scheme.

 

 

The latest cohort comes at a time when demand for government support for higher education continues to rise, with the Ministry receiving 10,615 applications compared to 7,125 applications in the previous academic year, representing a 48.9 percent increase.

Speaking at the release, the Commissioner for Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme, who represented the Permanent Secretary, commended the Government for sustaining the loan scheme as an important intervention in widening access to higher education, particularly for students who may otherwise be unable to meet the cost of university and other tertiary education.

 

 

Of the 10,615 applications received, 8,005 applicants were found eligible, while 2,610 applications did not meet the requirements. A significant number of the unsuccessful applications were attributed to incomplete submissions, with 1,452 applicants failing to provide all the required documentation.

The selection of the 2,790 successful beneficiaries was undertaken using a three-tier model designed to promote fairness, geographical equity and consideration of financial vulnerability. Under the model, 30 percent of applicants were considered through the District Quota system, another 30 percent were allocated to districts and cities proportionate to their share of eligible applicants, while 40 percent were selected based on their socio-economic vulnerability.

The Ministry said the approach has ensured representation from all parts of the country, including districts that have historically recorded low participation in the Students’ Loan Scheme such as Amudat, Buvuma, Kalangala, Karenga, Kotido and Moroto.

The selection process was supported by the Integrated Loan Management Information System (ILMIS), which automatically generated applicants’ Proxy Means Test scores. The assessment considered socio-economic background, academic performance, household characteristics, vulnerability factors, disability, parental loss, geographical considerations and other affirmative-action factors.

 

 

The system-based process was designed to minimize human interference and strengthen transparency, accountability and fairness in determining beneficiaries.

Of the 2,790 students selected, 1,400 are female, representing 50.2 percent, while 1,390 are male, representing 49.8 percent. A total of 2,019 beneficiaries will pursue undergraduate degree programmes, while 771 will pursue diploma programmes.

The scheme has also increased support for Persons with Disabilities, with 64 students with disabilities among the successful beneficiaries. The beneficiaries will be able to pursue eligible Science and Humanities programmes under the provisions applicable to students with disabilities.

 

Among the programmes attracting the highest number of beneficiaries are Bachelor of Science with Education, with 581 students, Engineering with 498, Computer Science with 313, and Health Care Management with 284 beneficiaries.

The Government has set aside Shs10.720 billion for the first-year cohort. Although the original budget was planned to support 2,400 students, the Ministry will now support 2,790 beneficiaries, helped by the lower unit cost associated with the programmes taken by many of the successful applicants.

 

The loans will cover tuition fees, functional fees and research fees payable to the respective tertiary institutions, as well as aids and appliances for eligible students with disabilities. The funds will be disbursed directly to participating institutions rather than being paid to individual students.

The number of universities participating in the scheme has also increased from 25 in the 2025/2026 academic year to 33 this year, comprising 11 public universities and 22 chartered private universities, alongside other tertiary institutions offering approved diploma programmes.

 

The Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme was established under the Higher Education Students’ Financing Act, 2014, as amended in 2024, with a mandate to facilitate access to higher education for eligible Ugandan citizens at affordable rates.

The scheme seeks to increase equitable access to higher education, support qualified students who cannot afford higher education, promote regional balance, support programmes considered critical to national development and maintain a sustainable revolving loan fund.

 

 

The Ministry has urged successful applicants to follow the communication from the Ministry regarding the next steps. Beneficiaries will receive notifications through SMS, the Ministry website and official social media platforms. They will subsequently be required to sign loan agreements, which will be administered through their respective institutions before funds are disbursed.

The continued expansion of the Students’ Loan Scheme reflects Government’s broader commitment to ensuring that lack of financial capacity does not prevent deserving Ugandan students from acquiring higher education and the skills needed to contribute to national development.

 

As the 13th cohort begins its journey, the Ministry of Education and Sports has congratulated all 2,790 successful beneficiaries and encouraged them to use the opportunity responsibly by pursuing their studies diligently and contributing to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

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