It is one of the eleven public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country.

[3] 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.

[4] The university's vision is to become “a Beacon Centre of Applied Science and Technology.”[5] The mission of Lira University is “to provide access to quality higher education, research, and to conduct professional training for the delivery of appropriate health services directed towards sustainable health, community, and environment.”[6] The university campus is located on approximately 500 acres (202 ha) of land, about 11 kilometres (7 mi), by road, northwest of downtown, Lira off of the Lira–Kamdini Road.

[10] In June 2015, the Uganda Ministry of Education elevated the college to university status, effective with the 2016-17 academic year that began in August 2016.

[11] As of January 2016, Lira University maintained the following academic units:[12] As of July 2024, the following undergraduate and Post graduate academic programs were offered:[13]