Enrolled but missing: UPE numbers soar in northern Uganda, but where are the pupils?

"Parents aren’t listening"

In Oyam District, Ms Beatrice Okello, the district secretary for education, blamed the high absenteeism on parents’ attitudes.

“We have done a lot of community mobilisation and sensitisation, but parents are not listening to us,” she told Monitor during the survey.

She added: “Many expect schools to provide everything, including books and pens.”

At Acokara Primary School in Otwal Sub-county, 977 pupils were enrolled in Primary Three to Five, yet only 279 were in attendance during the survey.

Some schools like Ayomapwono Primary had not updated attendance records for weeks. There, 1,337 learners were enrolled, but the last recorded attendance on March 19 showed just 843 present.

The School Management Committee (SMC) chairperson, Mr Paul Aloca, pointed to “deep-rooted parental apathy” and economic pressure as key drivers.

Hidden costs, missed lessons

Many learners are also sent home over unpaid Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) dues.

At Aloni Primary School in Iceme Sub-county, 485 learners were absent. Mr Patrick Okello, the school’s PTA chairperson, admitted some were turned away for failing to pay the Shs5,000 PTA fee.

He added: “Every Wednesday, pupils and parents go to Bario Market to buy or sell. Almost half of the learners don’t come to school.”

Lack of school meals also keeps children away. At Amido Primary School, only 149 of the 762 enrolled learners in Primary Three to Five were present during the survey.

David Adea, Oyam’s District Education Officer, said the dropout rate stands at 20.1 percent, with girls more affected (64%) than boys (36%).

“Learners drop out due to lack of midday meals, poor parental support, and high teacher-pupil ratios. Some as bad as 1:150,” he explained.

Similar scenes across districts

The problem is widespread. At Alebtong Primary School, only 170 of 273 learners were present in Primary Four. In Kole’s Alem Primary School, just 62 of 120 showed up. Uzu Primary School in Arua recorded only 185 learners present out of 298 in Primary Four.

Mr David Kennedy Odongo, LC5 chairman of Alebtong and head of Lango’s district chairpersons, said the issue goes beyond primary level.

“Dropouts are rampant even in secondary schools,” he said. “The major problem is parents not valuing education and the absence of feeding programmes.”

UPE: Success on paper?

Launched in 1997, UPE was heralded as a transformative policy, boosting enrollment from 3.1 million learners to 8.6 million in 2024. But according to a report by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), the programme is marred by gaps in quality, accountability, and funding.

“Despite the gains, many learners are being left behind,” ISER notes.

ISER recommends increased funding and policy clarity to ease the burden on parents and improve attendance.

Mr Odongo also urged government intervention saying: “Most countries have national feeding programmes to retain learners in school. Uganda should follow suit.”

Select UPE schools attendance data (P3–P5)

Government’s plan

The Ministry of Education and Sports announced a national lunch programme in 2024, expected to roll out in the 2026/2027 financial year. Education Minister Janet Museveni described the plan as “central to improving learning outcomes” under the NRM’s 2021–2026 manifesto.

For now, however, the growing gap between enrollment and attendance paints a grim picture for children in northern Uganda.