Kasese educators blame UCE slump on learner exodus to other districts

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Although some Kasese-based secondary schools posted outstanding performances in the recently released 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education results, most institutions recorded failures to the extent that a number of learners will not be awarded qualification documents.

As a result, a section of school heads have blamed the poor performance on parents who have made it a habit of registering their children in schools outside the district, especially those who have excelled in Primary Leaving Examinations.

Speaking to the New Vision on February 17, 2026, at Standard High School Nyamwamba in Nyamwamba division of Kasese Municipality, Enoch Friday Bwambale, the institution's deputy head teacher, explained that the practice leaves secondary schools in Kasese with average performers or PLE failures, hence affecting their performance at S.4.

"Most schools hardly register learners who have scored Division ones in PLE since their parents prefer taking them to Bushenyi, Fort-Portal, Mbarara and Kampala," Bwambale said.

"At the end of the day, they are the same learners who excel in UCE of their respective schools, giving fame to other districts," he added

Bwambale appealed to parents to appreciate the fact that government, some private companies and churches have come on board to support secondary education in Kasese by establishing standard institutions with excellent learning conditions for the benefit of local residents.

"Actually, the other added advantage when your child studies from home is following up easily on his day-to-day learning conditions and general performance," He said.

Meanwhile, Joseph Nzukwa, the head teacher of Kasese Secondary School, which is church-founded but government-aided, urged parents in Kasese to trust the existing schools in the district, reflecting on the strong performance they have exhibited over the years in UCE results.

"Most of our schools are even published in the New Vision upon performing well; moreover, at the national level," Nzukwa said.

Learners speak out

Jane Muhindo, a student at King Jesus College Mubuku, blamed some schools in Kasese for lacking adequate learning tools to facilitate the new curriculum, which is largely hands-on.

"We need more computers, science Lab equipment, among others," Muhindo said.

Patience Kunihira one of the students in Kasese blamed the poor performance of learners in the District especially girl children to parent's failure to provide the basic needs. (Credit: Samuel Amanyire)

Patience Kunihira, the head girl of Standard High School Nyamwamba, blamed some parents for failing to provide sufficient scholastic materials and other basic needs, especially for girl children, leading to poor performance and complete school dropout.

Need to explain new curriculum, marking and grading

Political leaders in Kasese district, especially Chance Kahindo Sibyabugha, the Kasese Municipality mayor, have tasked head teachers of secondary schools with sensitising the public about the current grading of the Uganda Certificate of Education in the implementation of the competence-based lower secondary schools curriculum.

He acknowledged that many people, especially parents, are still confused about the grading system, making it difficult for them to decide on the next course of action after receiving their children’s results.

"The school heads must utilise the available media platforms to tell the parents how their children scored and their qualifications for the advanced level or tertiary institutions," Kahindo said.

Interventions

However, the district leadership has defended efforts to strengthen education within Kasese.

According to Sharon Kabugho, the Kasese district communications officer, with support from the central government, the district is implementing a policy that requires every lower local government to have a secondary school to enable residents to access affordable, quality education.

"Seed schools have so far been constructed in Bwesumbu, Nyakatonzi, Karusandara, among others, and several of them are underway," Kabugho told New Vision on Thursday (February 19).

Kabugho says the seed schools and other government-aided institutions in the district have been supported with learning materials, including computers, textbooks and sports items.

"And we endlessly sensitise our people about the benefits of educating their children within the district," she said.