Government increases education funding to Shs6.66 trillion in 2026/27 financial year, boosts teachers’ pay

Government has allocated Shs 6.66 trillion to the education sector in the 2026/27 financial year, with significant funding directed toward expanding access to education, strengthening science and technology training, and improving teachers’ welfare.

Finance Minister Henry Musasizi announced the allocation while presenting the national budget, describing education as the most powerful instrument for social mobility and long-term economic transformation.

“Education remains the most powerful instrument for social mobility and long-term economic transformation,” Musasizi said.

The minister reported that government continued financing Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), ensuring access to education for millions of Ugandan learners.

According to the budget speech, approximately 9.52 million learners benefited from UPE while 995,116 students were supported under USE and Universal Post O-Level Education and Training programmes.

Government also expanded education infrastructure during the financial year.

Musasizi said 90 additional seed secondary schools were completed, 54 existing secondary schools expanded, and 259 seed schools operationalised across the country.

The developments are intended to improve access to secondary education, particularly in underserved areas.

The sports sector also registered major progress ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

“Hoima Stadium has been completed, upgrades to Namboole Stadium are progressing well, and other required tournament facilities remain on schedule,” Musasizi said.

Construction of Akii-Bua Stadium is also progressing according to schedule.

Government continued to intensify investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), technical and vocational education, industry-linked skills development and digital literacy.

The minister said these investments are designed to produce graduates equipped with skills required by modern industries and the digital economy.

In one of the most significant announcements for education workers, Musasizi revealed that government has allocated an additional Shs 568.65 billion to enhance salaries for primary school teachers and arts teachers in secondary schools and Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions.

The move is expected to improve teacher motivation and address longstanding concerns about remuneration disparities within the education sector.

For the 2026/27 financial year, priority interventions will include expanding access to quality education, strengthening STEM and vocational training, improving teacher welfare and training, curriculum reform, supporting public universities and research institutions, and completing sports infrastructure required for AFCON 2027.

The minister said government remains committed to producing a skilled workforce capable of driving Uganda’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.