By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda Chapter is funding 23 students at Lira University under the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) program.
While addressing a consultative meeting at Lira University Faculty of Public Health Board Room on 22nd April 2026, Ms Susan Opok Tumusiime, FAWE Executive Director, said in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, FAWE Uganda is implementing the HEAC Program in various educational institutions in the county.
This initiative, Ms Opok Tumusiime said, aims to increase access to tertiary education for disadvantaged youth, particularly girls, refugees, and persons with disabilities, by providing bursaries and supporting remedial “bridging” programs.
She noted that the program is designed to create pathways for, often marginalized, young individuals to transition into tertiary education and subsequently to employment or self-employment.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Andrew Ojulong lauded FAWE-Uganda for funding HEAC, a bridging programme for learners who did not meet the minimum requirements to be admitted to undergraduate degree programmes in higher education institutions.
Dr. Ojulong revealed that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) accredited Lira University’s HEAC program in April 2024.
“As the University Management, we are impressed by the HEAC program scope and focus of supporting young individuals who have completed secondary education but lack the means or qualifications to enter university,” Dr. Ojulong says adding that the remedial bridging initiative benefits students who do not meet minimum university entry requirements.
The Deputy Dean of Faculty of Education, Mr. Gad Kwizera said a total of 133 students were the first admission to HEAC programme for academic year 2025/2026.
Mr. Kwizera said the students were admitted to HEAC-Physical and HEAC-Biological. “We wish to inform the potential students that for the academic year 2026/2027, HEAC-General admission has been advertised,” he reveals.
He listed the undergraduate programmes HEAC students can enrol for at Lira University as Bachelor of Science with Education (Biological, Physical, Agriculture, Economics), Bachelor of Arts with Education, Bachelor of Computer Education, Bachelor Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Community Psychology and Psychotherapy, Bachelor of Midwifery Science, Bachelor of Public Health, Bachelor of Public Administration and Management.
Others are Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Bachelor of, Human Resource Management, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, BSc in Library and Information Sciences, Bachelor of ICT, BSc in Computer Animations, Bachelor of Nursing Science-Direct Entry, BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc in Biological Sciences,
Mr. Kwezira requested FAWE-U to link the University to potential donors for ICT equipment for a modern e-learning interface and support in the acquisition of laboratory equipment for practical training in the sciences.
“If possible, support more mentors (especially males) to reduce mentor-mentee ratio for a more productive mentorship, “he observes.
In attendance were Faculty Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, among others.
