diff --git a/src/hqt/tui/app.py b/src/hqt/tui/app.py
index e19ff82..4df8d0b 100644
--- a/src/hqt/tui/app.py
+++ b/src/hqt/tui/app.py
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ class HqtApp(App):
         Binding("a", "add_project", "Add Project"),
         Binding("e", "edit_project", "Edit Project"),
         Binding("tab", "toggle_focus", "Switch Panel"),
+        Binding("h", "focus_projects", "Projects"),
+        Binding("l", "focus_sessions", "Sessions"),
         Binding("d", "delete_session", "Delete Session"),
         Binding("enter", "attach_session", "Attach", priority=True),
         Binding("r", "rename_session", "Rename"),
@@ -213,6 +215,12 @@ class HqtApp(App):
     def action_toggle_focus(self) -> None:
         self.screen.focus_next()
 
+    def action_focus_projects(self) -> None:
+        self.query_one("#project-list").focus()
+
+    def action_focus_sessions(self) -> None:
+        self.query_one("#session-list").focus()
+
     def action_add_project(self) -> None:
         def on_dismiss(result: tuple[str, str] | None) -> None:
             if result:
diff --git a/tests/test_tui.py b/tests/test_tui.py
index dd99b55..9716f48 100644
--- a/tests/test_tui.py
+++ b/tests/test_tui.py
@@ -1983,3 +1983,35 @@ def test_policy_reflects_suboptions_when_sandbox_on():
     assert policy is not None
     assert policy.fs == "ro"
     assert policy.net is False
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Task 3: h/l column focus navigation
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_hl_focus_bindings_exist():
+    bindings = {b.key: b for b in HqtApp.BINDINGS}
+    assert bindings["h"].action == "focus_projects"
+    assert bindings["l"].action == "focus_sessions"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_h_focuses_projects_l_focuses_sessions(tmp_path):
+    app = HqtApp()
+    async with app.run_test(size=(120, 40)) as pilot:
+        d = tmp_path / "hl-proj"
+        d.mkdir()
+        app._project_service.create("hl", str(d))
+        app._load_projects()
+        await app.workers.wait_for_complete()
+        await pilot.pause()
+
+        await pilot.press("l")
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.focused is app.query_one("#session-list")
+
+        await pilot.press("h")
+        await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.focused is app.query_one("#project-list")