By Diana.N.Kintu
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has launched a nationwide four-day data collection exercise as part of the Baseline Education Census 2025, deploying 1,100 Field Data Collectors to visit primary schools across the country. This exercise marks a major step in building a comprehensive statistical picture of Uganda’s education sector.
The census comes after the resolution of an industrial action by Government Primary School teachers, which had previously delayed the process at the start of the Third Term. The exercise began today and is scheduled to run until Thursday, 30 October 2025. UBOS has emphasised that the tight timeline was planned carefully to avoid any disruption to Primary Seven candidates, whose final national examinations are set to commence on 4 November.
According to UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, the Baseline Education Census, is intended to provide critical information for evidence-based planning, targeted investment, and policy formulation. “The Baseline Education Census is designed to generate detailed statistical data that will guide policy formulation and improve planning across the education sector,” Dr. Mukiza said.
The census will collect detailed information on learners, including names, dates of birth, classes, and identification numbers such as Learner Identification Numbers (LIN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) where available. Data on teaching staff, including qualifications, subjects taught, and Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) numbers, will also be captured, alongside records of non-teaching staff.
School-level information is another focus of the exercise. Enumerators are gathering details on each school’s location, identity, and contact information, as well as a full inventory of infrastructure. This includes classrooms, libraries, laboratories, toilets, and sports facilities. Information on teaching materials, including the number of textbooks per subject, and the status of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, is also being collected to ensure a full picture of school resources and readiness.
UBOS has called on school administrators, local government officials, parents, and guardians to cooperate fully with census enumerators. Parents, in particular, are urged to ensure that learners provide accurate personal information, such as correct dates of birth and identification numbers.
The bureau reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating the National Statistical System and providing quality statistical services that support Uganda’s development processes. The data from this census is expected to play a vital role in planning and implementing policies that enhance learning outcomes, strengthen infrastructure, and improve access to quality education for all children across the country.