Buyende RDC Launches Investigation into Alleged 'Ghost Pupils' and Enrollment Inflation

Paul Mwidu Kalikwani, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Buyende District, has sounded the alarm over a widespread issue of fictitious student enrollments in several government schools. Kalikwani expressed grave concern that this practice is leading to the misappropriation of billions of shillings in capitation grants, funds meant to support educational institutions.

During a parents’ engagement meeting at Wandago Primary School, the RDC revealed that his office has uncovered evidence of headteachers deliberately inflating pupil numbers to secure larger government grants. He described this as a “ridiculous and unacceptable” practice, noting a significant disparity between reported enrollment figures and the actual number of students attending classes.

To address this, Kalikwani has pledged to conduct a thorough audit. This investigation will meticulously compare the funding each affected school has received against its true student population. The RDC stressed the importance of accountability, urging outgoing headteachers to properly hand over all assets and liabilities to their successors.

The headteacher of Wandago Primary School, Mande Frank Ronald, corroborated these concerns, admitting that the school’s official register lists 1,236 pupils, while only 635 are currently attending. Mande also highlighted financial difficulties, including a demand to pay Shs4 million to his predecessor for outstanding debts, despite capitation funds being released.

Further allegations suggest that a private school, allegedly established by the RDC’s predecessor adjacent to Wandago Primary, may have been used to artificially inflate enrollment figures. The Chairperson of the School Management Committee, Yoweri Ibanda, supported the headteacher’s account, confirming the discrepancy between official and actual student numbers.

The issue of ‘ghost pupils’ has been a long-standing challenge in Uganda, contributing to the misallocation of educational resources. Estimates suggest that this practice costs taxpayers approximately US$11 million (about Shs41 billion) annually. While the Ministry of Education and Sports introduced an upgraded Education Management Information System (EMIS) in 2022 to improve data accuracy, implementation challenges persist.

This investigation is aimed at ensuring accountability and recovering any misappropriated funds. https://nilepost.co.ug/news/352494/buyende-rdc-launches-probe-into-alleged-ghost-pupils-inflated-school-enrolment