Kampala, Uganda – The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports, has officially launched a nationwide headcount targeting all learners and teaching staff across the country.
The initiative aims to collect accurate and timely data to inform education sector policies and planning.
Dubbed the Baseline Education Census, the headcount began this week in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area—including Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono districts—and will be rolled out across the rest of Uganda.
“This exercise will cover all learning institutions in the country, both government and private—ranging from pre-primary to higher institutions of learning,” announced Dr. Moricu Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Education.
Enumerators will collect data directly from learners and teachers using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI)—a technology-driven method using tablets to improve efficiency, accuracy, and real-time data submission.
For younger learners (Pre-primary to Primary Five), class teachers will assist in the interview process, while older students from Primary Six upwards will respond directly.
Key Data Points
According to Dr. Kaducu, the enumerators will collect detailed information including:
For Learners:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Sex
- Class
- Nationality
- Learner Identification Number (LIN)
- National Identification Number (NIN), student pass, or refugee ID
- Special needs status
For Teaching Staff:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Subjects taught
- TMIS Number
- Highest qualification and education level
- NIN/Work permit/refugee ID
For Non-Teaching Staff:
- Name, date of birth, sex, nationality
- Job title
- Identification details (NIN/work permit/refugee ID)
Institutional Data:
Enumerators will also document:
- School name and EMIS number
- Registration and licensing status
- Ownership type, UPE/USE status
- Contact details (email, phone)
- Physical location down to GPS coordinates
Additionally, the headcount will cover:
- Infrastructure (number of classrooms, libraries, toilets, labs, etc.)
- Teaching and learning materials (textbooks, guides)
- Water and sanitation conditions
- Power sources
“This comprehensive dataset will greatly improve education statistics, help monitor school infrastructure and resources, and guide future decisions in the education sector,” Dr. Kaducu said.
UBOS spokesperson Didacus Okoth revealed that over 8,500 enumerators have been trained, with 4,000 already deployed in the Kampala region.
The nationwide exercise is expected to cost Shs27 billion and will continue until June 30, 2025, with the rest of the country covered when the second school term begins.
“We are well prepared and determined to make this exercise a success,” Okoth affirmed.
