Rising Concern as Kenyan Learners Enroll in Ugandan Schools Without Proper Registration

Summary:

• There is growing concern over the increasing number of foreign learners , particularly from Kenya, enrolling in Ugandan primary schools without proper registration. Many pupils cross the border daily but fail to meet immigration requirements, risking exclusion from national exams. Uganda currently hosts around 50,000 foreign pupils, with only 14,000 properly registered.

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There is growing concern over the increasing number of foreign learners , particularly from Kenya and other East African countries, enrolling in primary schools across Uganda. This trend has been especially noticeable in border districts such as Malaba, Busia, Rwakhakha, and the West Nile region, where pupils frequently cross into Uganda for education but fail to complete the necessary registration processes.

The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control has raised alarms, urging schools to be vigilant and ensure that foreign learners are properly registered, particularly in border areas. The Directorate warned that those who fail to comply with Uganda’s immigration regulations risk being barred from sitting for national examinations.

Simon Mundeyi, the spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasized the challenges these foreign pupils face when registering for national exams. Learners who do not possess Learner Identification Numbers – which are issued only to Ugandan nationals or officially registered foreign pupils – are unable to proceed with their exam registrations. This oversight not only threatens the academic futures of the pupils but also exposes schools to legal risks.

Currently, Uganda is home to approximately 50,000 foreign learners, though only around 14,000 are officially registered. The discrepancy is particularly severe in areas bordering Kenya, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many pupils commute daily to attend Ugandan schools without proper documentation.

One of the schools with a high number of foreign pupils is Tororo Progressive Academy. Headteacher Jovan Awira Obel highlighted the challenges they face, noting that out of the school’s 921 learners, 100 are Kenyan nationals. These leaeners struggle with obtaining identification numbers and the expensive process of equating their academic qualifications. “This is not unique to our school; many others face similar challenges,” Obel added.

Ugandan immigration authorities have reiterated the importance of compliance with registration requirements to prevent disruptions to learners’ education and to uphold legal cross-border educational practices. Schools that are found to have enrolled unregistered learners are being urged to regularize their status to avoid any legal repercussions.

This trend of foreign leaeners coming to Uganda for education has been on the rise, with Uganda being ranked as one of the top destinations for immigrants in Africa. In the latest United Nations Migration Report 2024, Uganda was ranked third, ahead of Kenya, which was ranked seventh. This has further contributed to the influx of foreign learners seeking primary and secondary education in the country.

Authorities are calling for greater awareness among both schools and parents to ensure that all learners , foreign or local, are properly registered in accordance with Uganda’s education and immigration policies.