Students aiming for competitive university programs such as medicine, engineering, and law should prepare for tight cutoff points. With 92,273 students qualifying for university admission this year, the competition is fierce.
Of these, 54,338 students (58.9%) achieved three principal passes, placing them at an advantage during the selection process for degree programs.
In contrast, 37,935 students, who secured only two principal passes, face lower chances of admission to top universities.
Despite an increase of 11,457 students qualifying for university this year, Makerere University—the country’s largest public university—will maintain its current admission numbers, as it did in 2024.
This means intense competition for limited slots at Makerere, affecting admissions at other institutions as well. Students with two principal passes will find it even more challenging to secure places in top universities.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere University’s vice-chancellor, confirmed: “We will admit the same number of undergraduate students this year as we did in 2024.”
He added that Makerere is shifting focus towards graduate training in line with its strategic plan to become a research-led university.
Meanwhile, Charles Ssentongo, the deputy academic registrar in charge of undergraduate admissions, noted that Makerere alone admits approximately 10,000 undergraduate students annually.
Increased Admissions at Regional Universities
While competition remains tight at top institutions, regional public universities are expanding their intake to accommodate more students.
Many upcountry universities have been operating below capacity due to a preference for studying in Kampala.
Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru, Gulu University vice-chancellor, highlighted that regional public universities have been underutilized.
“For instance, at Gulu University, we have a capacity of 16,000 students, but we currently enroll only about 7,000,” he noted, urging students to explore opportunities outside Kampala.
Similarly, Prof. Jasper Ogwal-Okeng, vice-chancellor of Lira University, emphasized that the rise in university-qualified students is beneficial for regional universities.
“We can now double our intake and fully utilize government-funded facilities,” he said.
Busitema University vice-chancellor, Prof. Paul Waako, announced plans to admit 1,000 additional students this year, increasing enrollment from 5,000 to 6,000, particularly in new programs such as mining engineering, textile engineering, and agro-engineering.
Private Universities Expanding Admissions
Private universities are also increasing admissions. Uganda Christian University (UCU) spokesperson Jimmy Siyasa confirmed plans to open admissions for the May intake, leveraging new facilities at the Mukono and Kampala campuses to accommodate more students.
However, specific admission numbers were not disclosed.
Regulatory Oversight on Admissions
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has reiterated that universities seeking to increase their intake beyond approved numbers must first obtain permission. Prof. Mary Okwakol, NCHE executive director, stated:
“If a university wants to expand its admissions, they must apply, and we will assess their capacity before approval.”
Government Scholarships and University Options
Annually, 4,000 government sponsorship slots are available for Senior Six leavers at public universities and tertiary institutions.
Of these, 75% are awarded based on national merit, while 25% are allocated under the district quota system.
Additional slots are reserved for students with special needs (64) and talented individuals (40).
Last year, 2,350 students were admitted under the national merit scheme, with 1,388 joining Makerere University and the remainder distributed among other public institutions.
Uganda currently has 58 universities—10 public and 48 private—offering various programs.
The government is also in advanced stages of establishing a public university in the Busoga sub-region, with Bunyoro University set to commence construction this financial year, backed by a UGX 15 billion allocation.
Additionally, students are encouraged to explore alternative opportunities at the country’s 15 public technical colleges, particularly those who may prefer vocational training over traditional university education.
