The Uganda Bureau of Statistics has released the 2025 Baseline Education Census Report, revealing worrying dropout rates across the country despite continued government investment in the education sector.

The report shows that while millions of children enrol in school every year, a significant number fail to complete both primary and secondary education.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics, UBOS, has officially released the Baseline Education Census 2025 Report, providing updated national data on school enrolment, staffing, and infrastructure across all formal education institutions — from pre-primary to university level.

According to the findings, Uganda has a total of 13.5 million learners. Of these, 2.3 million are enrolled in pre-primary education, 9.1 million in primary schools, 2 million in secondary schools, while more than 74,000 learners are in non-tertiary institutions.

However, the report paints a concerning picture regarding learner retention in schools.

Out of the 1.7 million learners who enrol in Primary One, only 739,204 complete Primary Seven.

At the secondary level, only 352,929 students complete Senior Four out of the 508,769 who begin Senior One.

The trend continues at the Advanced Level, where only 129,596 students complete Senior Six compared to the 170,271 who enrol in Senior Five.

When asked about the alarming dropout rates and what the government is doing to address the challenge, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, responded as follows.

Speaking during the release of the report, UBOS Executive Director Chris Mukiza called upon planners and policy makers to utilise official statistics in driving Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

He said the report provides updated and comprehensive data on schools and non-tertiary institutions across the country.

Mukiza also commended Ugandans for increasingly appreciating the importance of official statistics and using data to demand accountability and improved service delivery.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the UBOS Board, Albert Byamugisha, praised the government for sustained investment in Uganda’s education sector, noting that universal education policies have transformed millions of lives.

Byamugisha added that continued government support toward statistical production demonstrates recognition of the importance of reliable data in national development, before congratulating the bureau on the milestone.

The census was jointly conducted by UBOS and the Ministry of Education and Sports, collecting baseline data on learners, teaching and non-teaching staff, school infrastructure, and instructional materials.

The Baseline Education Census is expected to play a critical role in guiding planning and policy formulation within the education sector by providing up-to-date information on access, staffing, facilities, and learning conditions across the country.