Uganda Parliament Approves National Teachers Bill to Boost Teaching Standards

Uganda’s Parliament has approved the National Teachers Bill, 2024, during a plenary session on April 23, 2026, led by Speaker Anita Among. This move aims to regulate and elevate the teaching workforce nationwide.

The bill turns the Cabinet’s 2019 National Teachers’ Policy into enforceable law, creating a structured system for teacher training, registration, licensing, and conduct. It addresses longstanding issues like absenteeism, poor qualifications, and inadequate supervision in schools.

State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo highlighted that the new National Teachers Council will handle teacher registration, enforce ethics, and manage discipline. Lawmakers such as Jonathan Odur and Nathan Nandala Mafabi noted it fills gaps in the 2008 Education Act by providing a unified regulatory body.

Committee Chairperson James Kubeketerya emphasized key reforms, including mandatory council registration for all teachers, internship programs, continuous professional development, and partnerships with the National Council for Higher Education for training accreditation. The bill promotes ethical standards and clarifies teacher management amid public sector changes.

The legislation now awaits presidential assent. Source: Parliament of Uganda