KAMPALA, UGANDA – Hoima City Woman Representative Asinansi Nyakato (PFF) has raised concern over severe overcrowding and teacher shortages in Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools, questioning how institutions operating under difficult conditions can meet the Ministry of Education’s boarding standards.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on 29 October 2026, Nyakato noted that classrooms originally designed to accommodate 45–50 learners are currently holding more than 100 pupils.
She questioned how underfunded UPE and USE schools are expected to comply with the Ministry’s boarding requirements when they are already struggling with inadequate infrastructure, limited resources and insufficient teaching staff.
The legislator further revealed that some primary schools operate with only three or four teachers, despite the minimum requirement of at least seven.
Citing the situation at Hoima Public School, Nyakato called on the Ministry of Education and Sports to assess the actual conditions in schools across the country before enforcing the proposed standards.
She argued that the government must first address the existing funding and staffing gaps affecting public schools to ensure that institutions can meet the required standards.
“You are talking about guidelines which you yourself, as Minister of Education, you have failed to meet,” Nyakato told Parliament.
She urged the Ministry to consider the practical challenges facing UPE and USE schools and take urgent steps to improve staffing levels, infrastructure and funding.
