Busitema University has been selected to host postgraduate scholars under Phase II of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) Scholarship Programme, following a competitive regional selection process that drew applications from universities across the East African Community.

Through the Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovation (DGSRI), Busitema University submitted two programmes for consideration: the Master of Science in Industrial Mathematics and the Master of Science in Materials Engineering. Both programmes were successfully selected, placing the University among a select group of institutions approved to host beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme.

IUCEA received 156 programme applications from 38 partner universities across the region. Of these, 60 programmes from 22 universities were selected to host scholars under Phase II.

This outcome was communicated during an ongoing IUCEA briefing held for Phase II partner universities, following the completion of the competitive selection process.

The EAC Scholarship Programme is a regional initiative of the East African Community and IUCEA, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank. It awards two year, fully funded Master's scholarships to students studying in an EAC Partner State other than their own, with priority thematic areas including Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Science, Technology and Business Science. At least half of all scholarship slots are reserved for women, in line with the programme's commitment to gender equity in postgraduate education.

Phase II commenced in October 2025 and is expected to support at least 280 students across three cohorts drawn from all eight EAC Partner States: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It builds on Phase I, under which 180 Master's students were supported since the programme's launch in 2018.

The selection of the MSc Industrial Mathematics and MSc Materials Engineering programmes strengthens Busitema University's position as a regional centre for postgraduate training, research and innovation. It opens the door for the University to host EAC scholars from other partner states, deepening academic exchange and giving Busitema's graduate programmes greater regional visibility.

As a host institution, the University will be expected to provide strong academic and research supervision, welfare support and administrative systems for incoming scholarship beneficiaries.

Applications for Cohort 4 of the EAC Scholarship Programme are currently open to EAC nationals aged 35 and below, with the application window closing on 10 September 2026. Eligible thematic areas include Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Science, Technology and Business Science, with at least 50% of scholarship slots reserved for women.

More information on the EAC Scholarship Programme, including eligible programmes and how to apply, is available on the IUCEA website (www.iucea.org) or through the Busitema University DGSRI office.