The genesis of HU was laid four decades ago in the mid-1970s (GC), with the establishment of 'Awassa College of Agriculture'- ACA in 1976.

Yet, HU has become a full-fledged university, in the country, at the turn of the 21^st. Century. Specifically, the name HU was coined in 2000, following the fusion of ACA with two other colleges, namely 'Wondo Genet College of Forestry' - WCF- (established in 1978) and 'Dilla College of Teacher Education & Health Sciences'- DCTEHS (established in 1996). However, the three colleges: ACA, WCF and DCTEHS were collectively known as 'Debub University' for less than a decade before the formation of HU.