Agago District has directed parents and guardians to ensure all children aged between six and 18 return to school when the third term begins on September 14, 2026, amid concern that more than 51,000 children are currently unaccounted for in the formal education system.
The directive was issued by the District Executive Committee on behalf of the district council as part of measures to address the high number of school-age children who are not enrolled in school.
According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) census, Agago has 63,059 children aged between six and 12 and 49,367 aged between 13 and 18, bringing the total population of children aged six to 18 to 112,426.
However, District Chairperson Wilson Otto said only 56,020 children were enrolled in primary schools by the end of the second term. A further 4,591 were enrolled in secondary schools, leaving an estimated 51,815 children unaccounted for in the formal education system. Otto described the situation as a serious concern for the district.
“This is a very unfortunate position for the district. We can have 51,815 children that we cannot account for, whether they are at school or at home,” he said. He said the district would work with local leaders, education officials, parents and security agencies to ensure school-age children return to class and remain in school.
Under the enforcement measures, any child below the age of 18 found loitering in markets, trading centres or other public places during school hours without a legitimate reason will be identified and referred to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
Otto also warned parents and guardians against keeping children out of school or exposing them to activities that could harm or exploit them.
“Parents or guardians whose negligence, deliberate failure or action contributes to a child being kept out of school or subjected to harmful activities will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.
The enforcement will involve sub-county education committees, district education task forces, local leaders, police and other government departments. Otto said the district leadership would also work with the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, District Police Commander and other stakeholders to ensure children report back to school on September 14.
The directive also covers children who are pregnant or have already given birth. Otto said pregnancy or parenthood should not automatically prevent children from continuing their education. He further warned schools against sending children home over unpaid Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions.
While parents may voluntarily agree to contribute money to support their schools, Otto said such contributions should not be used as a basis for denying children access to education.
“We are also asking all teachers to ensure no child who attends school is sent away because of either PTA or whatsoever,” he said. The district chairperson urged parents to take children who have dropped out back to the nearest primary or secondary school, regardless of their age or the class they are able to join.
He said the district’s broader objective was to improve literacy and protect children below the age of 18 from activities that could expose them to exploitation and other risks. “We want to have an educated population, at least to the point where we can read and write. This is a position we want to enforce as a district,” Otto said.
Parents have welcomed the directive, although some called for stronger measures to address the economic and social challenges that contribute to school dropout. Christine Lakidi, a parent from Wii Polo Cell in Lai Muto Town Council, said the directive was timely, particularly because children who remain at home while their peers are at school can easily become involved in petty trading and other forms of child labour.
“Some children start by staying at home for a few days and eventually get used to it. By the time parents realise it, they have completely dropped out of school. This directive can help us prevent that,” Lakidi said.
Pamela Adong, another parent from the area, said enforcement should be accompanied by measures to support vulnerable families. She said poverty, teenage pregnancy, domestic responsibilities and the inability of some families to meet school-related costs remain major barriers to regular school attendance.
“Poverty, teenage pregnancy and domestic responsibilities are some of the reasons children fail to remain in school. If these challenges are not addressed, simply ordering children to return to school may not solve the problem,” Adong said.
She said parents support the district’s objective but want the enforcement to focus on helping children return to school rather than simply punishing families. “We want our children in school, but the district should also help vulnerable families so that poverty does not continue pushing children out of school,” she said.-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
