education 23 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
IUCEA Finalizes Vetting of 22 Universities for EAC Scholarship Program
The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has completed a crucial inspection phase for 22 universities across four East African nations, determining their eligibility to host scholars in the next phase of a German-funded scholarship program. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/iucea-clears-path-for-22-universities-to-host-next-wave-of-eac-scholars-5506036
The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has concluded a rigorous four-day assessment of 22 universities in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. This exercise is a key step in selecting institutions that will host students under the expanded East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme, a significant initiative backed by €9 million in funding from Germany.
Teams from IUCEA conducted on-site inspections from June 15 to June 18, evaluating lecture halls, laboratories, accommodation, and overall support systems. The visits aimed to ensure that shortlisted universities possess the necessary academic and research capacity, robust student welfare services, effective grievance mechanisms, and strong administrative structures to support the scholars throughout their studies.
This final vetting stage follows an initial call for applications, which saw 37 IUCEA member universities express interest. A preliminary desk review narrowed down the field to the 22 institutions that subsequently underwent these intensive physical assessments.
The EAC Scholarship Programme is designed to promote regional integration by fostering student mobility, increasing access to quality higher education, and cultivating a skilled workforce essential for East Africa’s socio-economic development. The second phase of the program, bolstered by new German funding, aims to further these objectives.
IUCEA emphasized that beyond selecting host institutions, this process helps strengthen collaborative ties with universities, advancing the goal of a common East African higher education area. The findings from these inspections will directly influence which universities will ultimately admit the next cohorts of EAC scholars, ensuring they receive high-quality learning experiences conducive to academic achievement, innovation, and regional cooperation.