Government has selected atotal of 2,790 students to benefit from Higher Education Students Financing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year.
The beneficiaries were selected from 10,615 applicants seeking financial support to pursue degree and diploma programmes at accredited higher education institutions.
The Ministry of Education and Sports said the number of applications has increased significantly, highlighting the growing demand for student financing.
Michael Wanyama, the Commissioner for the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme, said the ministry received 10,615 applications this year, compared with 7,125 in the previous academic year.
“This time round we received a total of 10,615 applications, way above the 7,125 received in the last academic year,” Wanyama said.
Applications opened on 25 May 2026, with the initial deadline set for 25 July. The ministry later extended the deadline to 31 July to give more time to students whose admissions had been delayed by some higher education institutions.
Students applied online through the Integrated Loan Management System.
To qualify for the scheme, applicants had to be Ugandan citizens, aged 35 years or below, and admitted to accredited programmes at chartered higher education institutions.
The ministry said applicants were assessed using a standardised scoring system designed to ensure that the selection process was fair and free from human interference.
“All applicants are subjected to a uniform scorecard which considers social economic indicators to arrive at the lending decision,” Wanyama said.
The assessment considered several factors, including academic performance, household circumstances, vulnerability indicators such as disability and loss of parents, geographical location and affirmative action considerations.
Of the 10,615 applications received, 8,005 applicants, representing 75.5 per cent, were found eligible, while 2,610 were disqualified. According to Wanyama, most of the rejected applications were incomplete.
The ministry ultimately approved loans for 2,790 students, meaning about 34.8 per cent of those found eligible received financing.
The number of successful applicants has increased substantially from the previous academic year, when 862 students received loans.
Of the 2,790 beneficiaries, 1,400 are female and 1,390 are male.
The beneficiaries include 2,019 students pursuing degree programmes and 771 taking diploma courses.
Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme was established by an Act of Parliament-the Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Act,2024, to provide Loans and Scholarships to Ugandan Students who wish to pursue Higher Education in recognized Higher Education Institutions, but unable to support themselves financially.
The scheme is managed by the Ministry of Education and Sports under the Higher Education Students Financing Department
