education 28 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Auditor General Exposes Dangerous Infrastructure Shortfalls in Uganda's USE and UPE Schools
A recent audit reveals severe infrastructure deficits in Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools, including condemned pit latrines and crumbling classrooms endangering students, while similar issues persist in Universal Primary Education (UPE) institutions. Government officials promise budget boosts for labs and facilities amid criticism of inadequate funding. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/upe-and-use-crisis-unsafe-govt-school-buildings-threaten-student-safety-audit-report-5439856
The Auditor General’s report for the period ending June 2025 highlights a deepening crisis in Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools, where unsafe buildings threaten student and teacher safety.
Inspectors visited 233 schools between September and December 2025 and found many still relying on condemned pit latrines, far exceeding WHO-recommended sanitation ratios of one stance per 25 girls and 30-50 boys. This compromises privacy, health, and safety.
Structural dangers abound: 252 schools have classrooms with cracked walls, and 237 feature damaged, aging iron sheets. Additionally, 136 schools lack science labs entirely, with 270 others inadequately equipped, hindering effective learning.
Other shortages include libraries in 182 schools, books in 233, teacher housing in 251, and adequate classrooms in 280, causing overcrowding. Local officials blame insufficient central government funding.
State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo acknowledges the resource constraints but assures upcoming budgets will prioritize science labs, construction, and equipment. However, Shadow Education Minister Joseph Ssewungu criticizes the regime’s handling, calling it a ‘total mess’ compared to past administrations.
These problems echo prior audits, like the 2023 UPE report noting extreme overcrowding with 67 pupils per latrine and 77 per classroom. The ministry plans significant infrastructure investments in the next financial year.
Findings based on inspections of less than half of over 1,800 USE schools. Source: Daily Monitor