From Mbale, Mbarara, Mubende To Lira: ONC School Monitoring Program Reveals Progress & Pressing Education Needs

By Frank Kamuntu

Hope, determination, and the pursuit of quality education continue to define communities across Uganda as the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) intensifies its nationwide school monitoring program aimed at strengthening the implementation of government education initiatives.

During a visit to Makhai Primary School in Mbale District, ONC District Coordinator Andrew Allan Wokalo encouraged parents and community leaders to work together to ensure that every child remains in school. The school currently enrolls more than 1,300 learners under Universal Primary Education (UPE), serving as a symbol of resilience and opportunity in the region.

What sets Makhai Primary School apart is its inclusive education model, which integrates both regular learners and over 70 children living with different forms of impairments. The approach has brought hope to families who previously struggled to access education for children with special needs.

Despite limited resources, the school has continued to achieve notable academic results. In the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations, 23 candidates passed in Division II while 32 achieved Division III, demonstrating determination among both teachers and learners.

However, the visit also exposed several pressing challenges. The school currently has only two specialized teachers serving learners with impairments and urgently requires improved sanitary facilities and disability-friendly infrastructure. Administrators also noted that parental neglect remains a significant contributor to learner dropout.

Even with these difficulties, the school leadership expressed appreciation to the government for sustaining the UPE program, which continues to keep education accessible to thousands of children.

Meanwhile, under the directive of Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, Head of the ONC and Senior Presidential Advisor, the ONC Greater Mubende team conducted a guided supervision exercise to assess government education programs in Kiboga District.

The team visited Lwamata Town Council Community Secondary School where Headteacher Kirimanyi Aloysius reported a promising start to the 2026 academic year, with 150 students attending on the opening day out of an expected 552 learners for the first term.

The school also recorded impressive results in the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, where all 82 candidates passed in Division One an achievement the ONC team described as a testament to dedication and academic potential.

The monitoring team commended Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for securing 12 acres of land for both Kitagenda Memorial Primary School and Lwamata Town Council Community Seed Secondary School. Through the Ministry of Education and Sports, the government has also constructed three classroom blocks at the school.

However, the institution is yet to be gazetted or officially commissioned. The ONC team appealed to Parliament to prioritize its gazetting in the 2026/2027 financial year, noting that temporary learning structures remain inadequate, with up to five students sharing a single desk.

The team also raised concerns about conditions affecting girls’ education in the district. According to the oversight findings, about 92 percent of schools in Kiboga lack changing rooms for female students, a gap that threatens comfort, dignity, and retention of girls in school.

Additionally, the ONC warned against political actors misleading communities by offering bursaries in government schools, emphasizing that education under both Universal Secondary Education (USE) and UPE programs is free.

Similar challenges were reported in other parts of the country. In Lira City, Boke Primary School, which enrolls between 1,043 and 1,240 learners, faces severe shortages of classrooms, teachers, and lacks changing rooms for girls. ONC representatives James Justine and Angom Betty highlighted the urgent need for intervention.

In western Uganda, the ONC Greater Mbarara team led by Joseph Barugahara visited Lake Mburo Secondary School in Kiruhura District’s Kanyaryeru Sub-county. The school currently serves about 550 students under the USE program.

While commending government efforts to expand access to education, the team noted several challenges affecting learning at the school. These include water shortages, student absenteeism during drought periods, and inadequate dormitory space for boarding students.

Across all the monitored schools, the ONC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening service delivery through continuous oversight and community engagement. The teams urged government institutions, Parliament, and local communities to address infrastructure gaps and social challenges that hinder effective learning.

“Education remains the foundation of national transformation,” the teams emphasized, calling on parents, leaders, and stakeholders to protect every child’s right to quality education and ensure government programs reach their full potential.