Oyam, Uganda: The Education Sector in Oyam District is grappling with serious funding gaps, despite being allocated the lion’s share, Shs25.7 billion, of the district’s Shs55 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year.
According to the approved figures, the Education Department received Shs25.7 billion, followed by the Health Sector with Shs10.2 billion, while the Administration was allocated Shs9.8 billion. The Internal Audit Unit received the least funding at Shs57.8 million.
But David Adea, the acting District Education Officer, says the apparent prioritization of the education sector is misleading since a significant portion, Shs18 billion, goes to staff wages, leaving only Shs7 billion for development activities.
“From the remaining Shs7 billion, Shs4 billion is allocated to capital grants, while Shs3 billion goes to development grants,” Adea explained. “Within the development grants, school facilities grants receive only Shs650 million, which is barely enough to construct four blocks of two classrooms each.
“School maintenance grants receive Shs1 billion, which must cover rehabilitation efforts across 109 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, and three tertiary institutions.”
Adea warned that the limited funds severely constrain infrastructure development, with many schools in dire need of rehabilitation.
Hellen Beatrice Auma, the Secretary for Education and Sports in Oyam, echoed the concern, saying the current grants for school maintenance are “meager” and cannot meet the district’s infrastructure needs.
“There is a critical need for increased funding, especially for maintenance and facilities grants, if we are to provide a conducive learning environment for our children,” Auma said.
The funding crisis at the district level mirrors the national situation. In January 2025, the Parliamentary Education Committee reported a UGX 1.2 trillion funding shortfall at the Ministry of Education, warning that this threatens the continuity of Uganda’s free and compulsory Universal Primary Education (UPE) program.
James Kubeketerya, Chairperson of the Committee, said the Ministry needs UGX 309.16 billion to implement free and compulsory primary education, but the allocation was excluded from the 2025/2026 national budget. “The Ministry of Finance should allocate additional funds for this program,” he said.
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