COSASE questions bureaucracy delaying teacher confirmations

What the report says

Uganda’s parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has raised concerns over delays in confirming teachers, ongoing staffing shortages in the education sector, and the incomplete constitution of the Education Service Commission. The issues were discussed in Kampala on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during a review meeting with officials from the commission and the Ministry of Education and Sports tied to queries in the Auditor General’s report for the year ended December 31, 2025.

According to Watchdog Uganda, COSASE chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi said the committee found a lengthy process for moving teacher confirmation applications between schools, the ministry and the commission. He said the review showed that out of 16,200 teachers targeted for recruitment in the period under review, 13,611 had been confirmed, leaving more than 3,600 still awaiting confirmation. He also warned that repeated handling of the paperwork could frustrate teachers and create room for fraud.

The committee additionally pressed the Education Service Commission on why it was not fully staffed, noting that some positions had not been filled. Commission chairperson Samuel Abimelech Luboga said some members were away on recruitment duties in Mbarara and Mbale. State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang said the education sector has 188,118 staff against an approved establishment of 291,571, leaving a 35% vacancy rate. He linked the gap to recruitment limits and wage constraints, while ministry permanent secretary Kedrace Turyagenda said delays are mainly at school level once documents reach the ministry.