In the Financial Year 2025/26, the Government of Uganda has committed Shs 5.04 trillion to bolster the education sector, with a continued focus on expanding access, improving quality, and preparing for major continental events such as CHAN and AFCON27.
While presenting the budget, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija highlighted several key achievements from the current financial year. These include the provision of free Universal Primary Education to 9.52 million learners and support for 995,116 learners under Universal Secondary Education and Universal Post O’ Level Education and Training. Additionally, 5,192 students benefited from the Higher Education Students’ Loan Scheme, while 4,000 others were admitted on Government sponsorship into public universities.
Under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme, 166 seed secondary schools have been constructed to expand educational access. In preparation for the CHAN and AFCON27 tournaments, the Government has spent Shs 496.8 billion on Hoima and Akii Bua stadia and related training facilities, with a total budget of Shs 1.34 trillion earmarked for their completion. Mandela National Stadium has also been upgraded, and the National High-Altitude Training Centre in Teryet, Kapchorwa, has been commissioned.
Government has digitalised school inspections across public schools and TVET institutions to strengthen compliance with standards. To align with the new policy requiring primary teachers to possess degree-level qualifications, the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) has been established. UNITE has so far enrolled 1,000 students across five campuses and is taking over 23 Primary Teachers’ Colleges to upgrade certificate holders to diploma level.
The A-Level Competence-Based Curriculum has also been rolled out, with 357,120 learners completing the first cycle under the new Lower Secondary Education Curriculum. TVET reforms have seen the creation of a TVET Council, Sector Skills Councils, and a dedicated secretariat to enhance industry participation in skills training.
Next financial year, key interventions will include the continuation of free education at primary, secondary, and post-O’ level levels, increased funding for student loans and university sponsorships, rehabilitation of 120 traditional secondary schools and 31 special needs primary schools, construction of 116 new seed schools, and expansion of 61 existing secondary schools. The Government will also recruit more teachers and support staff, enforce nationwide electronic school inspections, supply instructional materials to improve the textbook-to-student ratio to 1:3 from the current 1:15, operationalise Bunyoro and Busoga universities, and complete ongoing sports facility projects for CHAN and AFCON27.