Uganda’s Higher Education Student’s Financing Board (HESFB) has extended the deadline for receiving applications for loans by one more week, until July 27, 2018; I.e For the undergraduate applicants and Aug 19, for diploma applicants.
The HESFB is a semi autonomous government body that was established by an Act of parliament; the HESFB Act of 2014 to provide financing for higher education in form of loans and scholarships.
The board offers scholarships and loans to Ugandans who intend to pursue courses in Institutions of higher Learning that are accredited by the National Council for Higher Education.
To date some 2,477 students have received loans out of whom 2277 have been awarded to students to pursue undergraduate courses. The remainder of the loans have gone to students to pursue diploma programs in different institutions.
The Board awards loans to students in all public and private chartered universities.
Accessing a loan facility from the HESFB requires one to have been admitted to any of the accredited public or private university or institution.
Michael Wanyama, the Executive Secretary of the HESFB notes however that the institution is unable to meet the needs of eligible applicants, with less than 30% of all those that apply managing to succeed.
According to the 2016 annual HELB report, government funding to the board has grown from Kshs 700m in the FY1999/2000 to Kshs. 4.9bn during the FY 2015/2016
