Lira University (LU) is one of the public university in Lira, Uganda. It is one of the eleven public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country. It was initially established in 2009 as a constituent college of Gulu University and attained autonomy as a fully-fledged public university through an Act of Parliament under Statutory Instrument 2015 No. 35 on 16 July 2015. Lira University was founded with a focus on health sciences and hosts the first university teaching hospital in Uganda.
The university campus is situated on approximately 621 acres (251.3 hectares) of land, northwest of downtown Lira, off of land, 68.7km from Kamdini.
Lira University first opened in August 2012 with 100 students. At that time, the institution was a constituent college of Gulu University and was known as Gulu University Constituent College Lira in 2009. It was also referred to as Lira University College.
In June 2015, the Uganda Ministry of Education elevated the college to university status, effective with the 2016-2017 academic year that began in August 2016.
As of January 2016, Lira University maintained the following academic units:
As of July 2024, the following undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs were offered:
The University Council is the highest decisionâÂÂmaking / policyâÂÂmaking body.