UGANDA: PRIVATE ACADEMIC SCHOOLS THRIVE, WHILE DROPOUT IN UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION AT PRIMARY FIVE

“Can’t you imagine that private primary school pupils at primary one or nursery can read and understand the subject matter, whether being Social Studies. Mathematics, Science and English subjects very well. But given the same primary one pupil in Anniversary Primary Education (UPE), the pupil will fail.

In the rural schools where UPE government-headed primary schools are, most teachers reported to their duty on Wednesday of the week, and on Friday they only teach up to midday; then they will excuse themselves to leave schools, and yet the same primary teachers, teaching in the private schools, reported at work from 12:00 am and leave school at 6:oo pm every day.”

Omoro district-Sunday, August 9, 2026

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, (Uganda Correspondent)

The Odek Chairman Local Councilor 3, with no shame, came out openly to appeal to the area Member of Parliament, the Omoro County MP, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, asking him to intervene to lobby for education funds for the students who excel very well but fail to pay the tuition.

“I want to appeal to you, Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, the Omoro County MP, to reach out to students who did well in Uganda “Ordinary” School Certificate Secondary Education. I have one student who excelled well; he was admitted to the Uganda School Education “Advanced Level Certificate”. But he comes from a poor family; his parents are not able to raise tuition fees for him.

Today I got the opportunity to meet you; give chance to let me give you the detail particular of the student, there are so many bright academic students who they are facing an uphill task. I beg you.” Joe Oling, the Odek Council Chairman 3, reiterates.

Otema Nelson, a resident of Lakim village, Odek Sub County, also appeals to Andrew Ojok Oulanyah to help his boy and daughter who excelled well in last year’s 2025/2026 “O” Level examination.

“I am one of the people who have been affected by environmental climate change. I have planted four acres of soybean and equally planted four acres of Maize with the hope that I will be able to send my children to gain a good education. However longed spell season destroyed my plantation, I am also appealing to Hon. Ojok Oulanyah to lobby for education funding, may be president scholarship if possible.” Otema Nelson decried.

The Awere Parish is one of the affected people, during the introduction, he introduced two of his sons, says when he was transferred to head Awere Anglican Church of Uganda, he could not afford to pay school fees.

The bishop of the Northern Uganda dioceses, see my two sons, one is in Senior Two and the eldest is in Form Five, at Awere Secondary School, because here they can walk to attend classes, because I cannot afford paying them in Gulu City because my income cannot sustain them and me.

“Let the institution get funding for our students; this is not my shortfall alone. People across this region are suffering the same.”

Andrew Ojok Oulanyah promised that he will reach out to the needy students; however, he did not explain how. This left parents who are living with them in pain, as they will be academically dropped out

“I will get a means of handling excellent students who excelled well in the last year of the 2025/2026 academic year.” Hon. Ojok Promised.

Poor turnout of the teachers and absenteeism

The Awere Old Boys and Old Girls worry for the future ahead; the reason for their worry rose up for the lack of interest from the primary schools’ teachers who they have abandoned their career.

On Sunday, August 9, 2026. It will be remembered as the cry for better education for those who have the labour to succeed in their study, despite the over two decades of conflict in Northern Uganda, which became a nightmare for education.

Betty Aber, Deputy Director of Christ Church Choir, who doubles as Deputy Headteacher of Christ Church Primary School, was concerned. She argued that many teachers in UPE schools turned up late for teaching; they don’t observe latecomers, both for their pupils and teachers.

She explains that in the past, the headmaster was very focused on the day-to-day affairs of running the school. Headteachers would not tolerate late coming for teachers, let alone pupils late coming; marking latecomers was at 7.50 am; those pupils who come late were heavily punished.

“Can you imagine that learners had been badly affected, because teachers come only twice at schools, on Wednesday, and on Friday they leave early. Even pupils come late past midday.” Betty Aber reasoned.

According to the finding which was carried out by our Correspondent, most of the private education institutions, both at primary level and post-secondary schools, are being headed by the big short in high positions either in private business or government positions.

Dr. Chris Muyingo, the Acting Minister of Education, owns Seeta High Schools, which has one of the best educational academic performances in the country.

St. Lawrence High Schools in Kampala City and Wakiso District, Gayaza Joiner Secondary School, Gulu Secondary School, Gulu College, “St. Joseph Layibi College, Sacred Heart Girls Secondary School, both founded by missionaries, Nyapyea College, Ombasi Secondary School.

Uganda currently has about 4,014 private secondary schools nationwide, according to the latest Baseline Education Census (BEC) 2025 conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). This makes private institutions the majority, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all secondary schools in the country.

Breakdown of Secondary Schools in Uganda (2025 Census)

Regional Distribution

• Buganda region: Highest concentration with 2,065 schools (public + private combined).
• Karamoja region: Lowest with only 40 schools.
• Other regions fall between these extremes, but Buganda clearly dominates in both number of schools and student enrollment.
• Learner Statistics
• Total learners enrolled: 2,008,133
• Female learners: 1,069,855 (53.3%)
• Male learners: 938,278 (46.7%)
• Public vs Private enrollment: 45% of learners are in public schools, while the majority attend private institutions.
• Key Insights
• Private schools dominate Uganda’s secondary education sector, reflecting heavy reliance on private investment.
• Public schools, though fewer, still serve nearly half of all learners, showing their importance in access and affordability.
• Regional disparities are stark: Buganda is the education hub, while Karamoja lags far behind in school availability.

The government-headed secondary schools.

Uganda has 1,484 government (public) secondary schools as of the latest Baseline Education Census (BEC) 2025 conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). These schools make up about 27% of all secondary schools nationwide, while private schools dominate with 73%.

Secondary School Landscape in Uganda (2025 Census)

Regional Distribution

• Buganda region: Highest number of schools overall (2,065), including both public and private.
• Karamoja region: Lowest with only 40 schools in total.
• Bugisu region: Faces the largest gaps, with 110 sub-counties lacking a public secondary school.

Enrollment Insights

• Total learners in secondary schools: 2,008,133
• Female learners: 1,069,855 (53.3%)
• Male learners: 938,278 (46.7%)
• Public vs Private enrollment: 45% of learners are in government schools, while 55% attend private schools.
• Key Challenges in Government Schools
• Overcrowding: Average of 60 students per classroom in public schools.
• Teacher ratio: About 40 students per teacher.
• Sanitation pressure: One toilet stance serves ~40 students.
• Regional inequality: Some areas, especially Bugisu and Karamoja, remain underserved.