Published on 19/09/2024
In response to MPs’ concerns about their increasing role in funding basic educational necessities for schools, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has directed the Ministry of Education to produce a detailed report on the status of Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools across Uganda. This report aims to address the issues and improve the quality of education nationwide.
The directive came after Joseph Ssewungu (MP for Kalungu West) raised an alarm over the Ministry’s delay in disbursing capitation grants, citing the ministry’s struggle to verify student numbers as the cause. Ssewungu argued that the financial burden of maintaining UPE schools has shifted to MPs, with schools requesting basic items like chalk, pens, and even latrine construction.
“We need an audit of UPE schools in Uganda. It’s MPs who are now building toilets, buying blackboards, and doing the painting. The little money you’re sending is late, and even when you clear districts, the funds don’t arrive. Headteachers are calling us for help—this is unsustainable. What’s happening to our schools is appalling,” Ssewungu remarked.
Minister of State for Primary Education, Moriku Kaducu, requested three months to compile the report, a timeline that was accepted by Deputy Speaker Tayebwa.
The Ministry of Education, in its 2023 report marking 25 years of UPE, boasted of increased enrollment, rising from 2.5 million in 1996 to 8.6 million in 2023. However, despite these gains, UPE has faced consistent criticism over inadequate funding. David Luyimbazi, Deputy Executive Director of KCCA, highlighted the disparity in capitation grants, with Kampala schools receiving only UGX 9,070 per student annually, compared to UGX 20,000 in other districts. Luyimbazi called for an increase to UGX 30,000 per student.
Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi added that Uganda’s education funding is among the lowest in East and Southern Africa. He called for a substantial increase in capitation grants to at least UGX 100,000 per student for primary education and UGX 150,000 for secondary education to improve both access and quality. “We’re investing in quantity, not quality,” Ssenyonyi stated. “Many students in UPE schools are struggling with basic skills. We need to address this funding gap immediately.”
Uganda currently allocates only 8.4% of its national budget to education, far below the regional average and the 20% target set by the Dakar Declaration of 2000. According to the World Bank, under the current “business as usual” approach, Uganda will face significant shortages of teachers, classrooms, and learning materials by 2040 unless substantial investments are made in the sector.
