We are one of Uganda's key social service delivery areas, responsible for critical government programmes such as Universal Primary Education (UPE), Universal Post Primary Education and Training (UPPET) as well as sports for enhancing citizens’ wellness/health/productivity and the country's image.
The mandate of the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is: "To provide quality education and Sports services in the country which are constitutional obligations for the Ugandan State and Government."
The Mission of the MoES is: "To provide for technical support, guide, coordinate, regulate, and promote the delivery of quality education and sports to all persons in Uganda; for national integration, individual and national development."
The Vision for MoES is: "Quality Education and Sports for All."
The sector is run on a principle of promoting public and private partnerships at all levels and the private sector has played significant roles in the provision of education services, especially at the post-primary and tertiary education levels.
According to the Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2004 - 2015, the implementation of the UPE policy of free tuition at primary school level since 1997 has had two important effects on enrolment:
Following the launch of UPE in 1997, enrolment increased from over two million pupils to the current almost eight million. To address challenges of the transition to post-primary education, the UPPET programme was launched in February 2007, making Uganda the first country in Africa to provide free education at this level. Consequently, enrolment grew rapidly.
The government is also concurrently exploring options for revitalization and strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to provide demand-driven skills under the encapsulating term of 'Skilling Uganda'.