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, Wilson Otto, the District Chairperson says 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 describes the situation as a serious concern for the district.
Parents have welcomed the directive, although some called for stronger measures to address the economic and social challenges that contribute to school dropout.
By URN
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