UN Child Rights Committee: Uganda Urged to Offer Free Pre-Primary Education

• The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urged Uganda to provide free, state-run pre-primary education for all children following its October 1 review.
• Currently, 60% of Ugandan children attend no schooling before primary, with pre-primary education left to private providers and parents bearing costs.
• Research from Human Rights Watch and ISER in 2024 highlighted financial barriers preventing access for most young children, especially in rural areas and for low-income families.
• Uganda's 2025 Early Childhood Care and Education Policy aims for equitable access but maintains a "piecemeal approach" relying on private providers.
• The Committee recommends expanding Universal Primary Education infrastructure and amending Uganda's Education Act to make pre-primary education a government responsibility.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Uganda should closely monitor parliamentary discussions and any proposed legislative amendments to the Education Act.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recently urged Uganda to significantly bolster its governmental support for early childhood education, advocating for the provision of free, state-operated pre-primary education for all children. This recommendation emerged from the Committee's latest review of Uganda's adherence to children's rights, published on October 1. A primary concern highlighted was the substantial number of children unable to attend school due to financial constraints, alongside "very limited access to early childhood education," a challenge particularly acute for children residing in rural areas and those with disabilities.

These findings align with research conducted in 2024 by Human Rights Watch and the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER). Their joint investigation revealed that the absence of government-funded pre-primary education in Uganda effectively denies most young children access to this crucial developmental stage. Data indicated that fewer than one in ten Ugandan children between the ages of three and five were enrolled in a formally registered and licensed pre-primary institution, with a striking 60 percent of children attending no schooling whatsoever before commencing primary education. Private preschool fees were identified as an insurmountable financial barrier for numerous families, especially those with lower incomes and those located in rural regions, illustrating the profound impact on educational access.

Under Uganda's current education legislation, the responsibility for pre-primary education falls to private providers, with parents bearing the full cost. This contrasts sharply with the government's provision of free primary and secondary education. Despite this, Uganda did adopt an Early Childhood Care and Education Policy in 2025, which acknowledges the vital importance of pre-primary education and commits the government to enhancing equitable access to quality, inclusive early childhood education.

However, the policy's implementation strategy has been characterized as a "piecemeal approach." This means that early childhood education largely remains in the hands of private entities, rather than becoming a fully integrated public service. Consequently, a significant number of families across the nation continue to face financial obstacles to accessing pre-primary education, leading to many children missing out on foundational learning experiences. The existing framework perpetuates a system where access is often dictated by a family's ability to pay, rather than universal entitlement.

The UN Child Rights Committee's call for free pre-primary education in Uganda underscores a critical gap in the nation's educational system, impacting the developmental trajectory of a generation. To address this, the Committee specifically recommended that Uganda either utilize or progressively expand its existing Universal Primary Education (UPE) infrastructure to introduce publicly funded pre-primary education for all children. Furthermore, a crucial step involves parliamentary action to amend Uganda's Education Act, explicitly designating universal pre-primary education as a governmental responsibility.

This potential shift in policy and law carries significant implications for various stakeholders. Lawyers and compliance officers in Uganda should closely monitor parliamentary discussions and any proposed legislative amendments to the Education Act. Such changes could fundamentally alter governmental responsibility and funding mechanisms for pre-primary education, directly affecting educational institutions, non-governmental organizations involved in early childhood development, and countless families.

The recommendation offers a clear path forward: to make pre-primary education free and accessible to every child, a sentiment echoed by Jo Becker, Advocacy Director for the Children's Rights Division.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Uganda should monitor parliamentary discussions and potential legislative amendments to the Education Act, as the UN Committee's recommendations could lead to significant changes in government responsibility and funding for pre-primary education. This may impact educational institutions, NGOs, and families involved in early childhood development.

Source: Original reporting based on Human Rights Watch and UN Committee findings.