LIRA, April 27, 2026 — The Forum for African Women Educationalists [FAWE] Uganda Chapter is funding 23 students at Lira University under the Higher Education Access Certificate [HEAC] programme.
The HEAC is a one-year [two-semester] intensive bridging programme in Uganda designed for students who have completed UACE but did not meet the minimum requirements for direct entry into university degree or diploma programmes. It provides a remedial, alternative pathway for students, including those with relevant foreign qualifications, to acquire the necessary skills and credentials for higher education.
Addressing a recent consultative meeting at Lira University’s Faculty of Public Health, the Executive Director of FAWE Uganda, Susan Opok Tumusiime, said her organisation, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is implementing the HEAC programme in various educational institutions across the country.
Tumusiime said the initiative aims to expand access to tertiary education for disadvantaged youth, particularly girls, refugees and persons with disabilities, by providing bursaries and supporting remedial bridging programmes.
She noted that the programme is designed to create pathways for often marginalised young people to transition into tertiary education and subsequently into employment or self-employment.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Lira University, Dr Andrew Ojulong, lauded FAWE for supporting the HEAC programme, which targets learners who do not meet the minimum requirements for admission to undergraduate degree programmes.
Ojulong revealed that the National Council for Higher Education [NCHE] accredited Lira University’s HEAC programme in April 2024.
“As the University Management, we are impressed by the HEAC programme’s scope and focus on supporting young individuals who have completed secondary education but lack the means or qualifications to enter university,” Ojulong said, adding that the initiative benefits students who fall short of minimum entry requirements.
The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education, Gad Kwizera, said a total of 133 students were admitted in the first intake of the HEAC programme for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Kwizera noted that the students were enrolled in HEAC-Physical and HEAC-Biological tracks. “We wish to inform prospective students that, for the 2026/2027 academic year, admissions for the HEAC-General programme have been advertised,” he said.
He also urged FAWE Uganda to link the university to potential donors for ICT equipment to support a modern e-learning interface, as well as laboratory equipment for practical science training.
“If possible, support more mentors, especially males, to reduce the mentor–mentee ratio for more effective mentorship,” he added.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-university-boss-appeals-to-museveni-to-boost-staff-sacco/
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