Over 200,000 Refugee-Hosting District Pupils Face School Disruption

What the report says

More than 200,000 pupils in refugee-hosting districts in Uganda are facing possible disruption to their schooling because of a shortage of teachers linked to falling donor support for the refugee response, according to Dokolo Post. The report says the pressure is affecting schools in settlements and surrounding communities, raising fears that some learners may not finish the 2026 academic calendar or move on to the next class on time.

The article says the funding squeeze has weakened humanitarian organisations’ ability to keep teachers in place, with more than 1,000 teachers reportedly laid off after some international partners withdrew from certain education programmes. That has prompted concern from education and refugee-response officials, who warn that staffing gaps could harm learning outcomes during a key part of the school year.

Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola held an emergency meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala to consider response measures. He said government continues to support refugees and urged development partners to help protect children’s education. UNHCR country representative Margaret Atieno also called for coordinated action, saying Uganda’s refugee-hosting approach depends on sustained international support.

Dr Cleophas Mugenyi, commissioner for basic education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, said keeping teachers in classrooms is important for both refugee and host-community learners. More broadly, Uganda hosts more than two million refugees, and the report places the education warning in the context of wider funding pressures that have forced aid agencies to reduce some services.