Gulu City, Uganda: Authorities in Gulu City are considering a comprehensive registration exercise for foreign learners enrolled in city schools, citing growing difficulty in establishing accurate numbers amid a steady influx of migrants and refugees.
The proposal was disclosed on Tuesday, January 27, by Richard Irwenyo, the Gulu City Education Officer, who said the lack of reliable data has complicated planning for education infrastructure, staffing and service delivery.
“We are receiving learners from Eritrea, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and even Afghanistan, but we do not have their exact numbers,” Irwenyo said. “Without accurate figures, planning becomes very difficult.”
Gulu City has increasingly attracted foreign learners due to its relative stability, expanding education sector and proximity to refugee-hosting districts. Education officials say the unquantified enrolment has placed pressure on classroom space, furniture and sanitation facilities.
Irwenyo noted that many schools admit foreign learners without formally declaring them to city education authorities, making it difficult to determine infrastructure and resource needs.
“At the moment, it is hard to establish the exact number of foreigners, including refugees, studying in our schools,” he said. “Yet these figures directly affect how many classrooms we require, how many desks to procure, and whether sanitation facilities are adequate.”
City authorities, however, emphasised that the proposed registration would support evidence-based planning, not exclusion. “This exercise is not meant to exclude any learner,” Irwenyo said. “It is intended to help us plan properly and ensure all learners are accommodated in a dignified and safe environment.”
Immigration and Examination Risks
The proposal follows warnings issued in 2024 by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, which cautioned schools against enrolling foreign students without valid student passes and proper registration.
Immigration officials warned that undocumented foreign learners, particularly in border districts, risk being barred from sitting national examinations if their immigration status is not regularised.
Education officials say the lack of coordination between schools and immigration authorities exposes learners to serious academic and legal risks.
“When learners are not properly registered, they risk reaching national examinations only to be told they are not eligible,” Irwenyo said. “That is a situation we want to avoid.”
Nationally, Uganda is estimated to host about 50,000 foreign students, but only 14,000 are officially registered, according to immigration data, raising concerns over oversight, compliance and learner protection.
Education analysts say the absence of accurate records undermines planning and creates uncertainty for learners and institutions alike.
“Registration protects the learner as much as it helps government planning,” Irwenyo said. “It ensures students are visible in the system and that schools operate within the law.”
The Gulu City Education Department said consultations are ongoing with school proprietors, immigration officials and other stakeholders to agree on the scope and modalities of the proposed registration exercise.
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