Uganda Bureau of Statistics has earmarked Shs27 billion to conduct
nationwide baseline Education Census, Aquaculture and Labour baseline
census aimed at gathering evidence-based data to guide planning and
policy in the education sector.
The exercise officially began on April 7, 2025 in the Greater Kampala
Metropolitan Area—covers Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso
districts—before being rolled out to the rest of the country.
State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, said the
census will cover all learning institutions, both government and private,
across all levels: pre-primary, primary, secondary, vocational, and higher
education.
“The exercise will cover every learning institution in Uganda—whether
public or private—right from nursery schools to universities,” said Kaducu.
Minister Kaducu called on school administrators, parents, and local
authorities to support the census. She urged parents to ensure learners
know their correct date of birth, NIN, and LIN to facilitate smooth data
collection.
“We appeal to all heads of schools and institutions to fully cooperate with
enumerators. Parents must support the exercise by equipping learners with
accurate personal information,” she emphasized.
The Education Census is expected to play a vital role in shaping the
country’s education landscape, ensuring that policies and programmes are
grounded in real-time data.
UBOS Head of Communication Didacus Okoth said UBOS all deployed
enumerators were adding that the enumerators will use Computer-Assisted
Personal Interviewing (CAPI) tools—essentially digital tablets—to collect
data, ensuring faster and more accurate statistics.
What the Census Will Cover
The comprehensive exercise will gather information from learners, teaching
and non-teaching staff, and the institutions themselves.
For learners, data will include, Full name, Date of birth, Gender, Class,
Nationality, Learner Identification Number (LIN), National Identification
Number (NIN), student pass, or refugee ID (if applicable) and any special
needs
Class teachers will assist learners from Pre-Primary to Primary Five
during the interviews, while those in primary six and above will respond
independently.
Teaching staff will be required to provide: Name, Date of birth, Gender,
Nationality, NIN/Work permit/Refugee ID, Subjects taught, Teacher
Management Information System (TMIS) number, Highest teaching
qualification, The highest level of education attained
Non-teaching staff will also be profiled, with data including; Name, Date of
birth, Gender, Nationality, Job title,NIN/Work permit/Refugee ID
At the institutional level, the census will capture: Name of institution,
EMIS number, Operational status, License and registration details, Exact
location (district, sub-county, parish, village, and GPS coordinates), Level
of education, Ownership (government or private), Type and sex
composition, Year founded, UPE/USE status, Contact details (telephone,
email, and name of respondent)
The census will also assess infrastructure and resources, such as Number
and size of classrooms, Laboratories and libraries, Toilets and washrooms,
Stores and workshops, Teacher housing, Sports facilities, Textbooks and
teaching guides, Water and sanitation facilities, Source of electricity