More pupils enrol in Uganda schools — report

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More children have been enrolled in primary schools in Uganda in the past seven years, according to the latest National Household Survey (UNHS) report.

The report for 2023/24, which was officially released by finance state minister for planning Amos Lugoloobi on Thursday (May 15, 2025) at Hotel Africana in Kampala, was compiled by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).

It indicates that the gross enrolment rate in primary schools in the country stood at 119.5% in 2023/24, up from 116.8% in 2016/17.

In rural areas, it stood at 121.2%, up from 117.7%, while in urban areas the rate stood at 116.3%, up from 113.8%.

In terms of gender, the gross enrolment rate (GER) for males stood at 119.9% in 2023/24, up from 117.7% while for females it stood at 119.0%, up from 115.9%. 

GER refers to the total number of learners enrolled in a specific level of education (e.g., primary or secondary), regardless of their age, expressed as a percentage of the population that is in the official age group for that level.

Therefore, a GER of 119.5% in primary school means that for every 100 children in the official primary school age group, there are 119.5 enrolled — indicating that some pupils are either younger or older than the typical age for primary school.

This shows how many children are accessing education, even if they're not in the correct age group due to factors including late enrolment or repetition.

However, the net enrolment rate (NER) in the country dropped from 79.5% to 77.9%, with the urban areas accounting for 80.5% and rural areas 76.5%.

NER is the percentage of children who are in the official age group for a given level of education and are actually enrolled in that level.

An NER of 77.9% in primary school means that 77.9 out of every 100 children who should be in primary school (based on their age) are enrolled. 

At the secondary level, the gross enrolment in the country dropped from 37.9% to 33.6% in the period under review, with 46.9% in urban areas and 26.0% in rural areas.

In terms of gender, the gross enrolment rate for males stood at 34.1% in 2023/24, down from 38.7% while for females it stood at 33.2.%, down from 37.1%.

The net enrolment rate in the country also dropped from 27.8% to 23.2%, with the urban areas accounting for 34.8% and rural areas 16.7%.

Economic Policy Research Centre executive director Dr Sarah Ssewanyana noted that while gross enrolment exceeds 100%, it reflects inefficiencies.

Ssewanyana, who was one of the panelists analysing the report at the event, said the findings indicate that many children are either underage or overage, repetiting, delayed entry, or irregular attendance.

While presenting the enrolment findings, UBOS head of demography and social statistics department Sharon Apio said the report was designed with inclusivity and statistical rigour at its core.

A total of 17,350 households were surveyed from 1,735 enumeration areas, selected using a sampling framework based on the 2014 National Population and Housing Census.

“This report represents a continued commitment by the agency to produce high-quality and nationally representative data at regular intervals,” Apio said.

She noted that since the first survey in 1999/2000, UNHS has served as a cornerstone of Uganda’s statistical system, conducted every three years to monitor socio-economic dynamics across the country.

“The primary objective of this survey is to collect comprehensive demographic and economic data to inform policy decisions, track development progress, and support national planning frameworks such as Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” she said.

Universal education

Having realised that the country was recording a very low school enrolment, the Government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE).

According to the Government, this policy was to have as many Ugandan children enrol in schools and at least have access to basic education. Later, the Government introduced Universal Secondary Education (USE).

Statistics indicate that primary school enrolment from independence to 1986 when President Museveni took power increased by only 1.69 million children from half a million children in 1963 to 2.2 million children in 1986.

When the UPE programme was introduced, enrolment increased by 77%, from 2.2 million in 1986 to 5.3 million in 1997.