Several secondary schools in Lira City have reported low student attendance four days into the third term, with school administrators attributing the slow return to financial hardships affecting parents.
The schools have appealed to parents to send their children back to class, even when they have not cleared school fees or purchased all the required personal necessities, as candidates prepare for the 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
A survey by our reporter on Thursday, September 17, 2026, found that some schools were yet to receive half of their expected student population, raising concerns about the time available for learning and examination preparations.
At Lango College, the director of studies, Akullu Judith, said the number of students who had reported was still low, with attendance yet to reach half of the school’s population.
Akullu urged parents affected by drought and other economic hardships to send their children back to school, regardless of their financial circumstances. She said the school had received its mock examination results, although the performance was not satisfactory.
Akullu said the school would intensify preparations for the UCE candidates to help them improve their performance within the remaining period before the examinations.
At Nancy School for the Deaf, headteacher Okello Bonny George said attendance remained low as parents struggled to raise money for school fees and their children’s personal requirements. He said that by Thursday, only 33 of the school’s 89 Senior One students had reported, alongside 21 of 85 in Senior Two, 21 of 117 in Senior Three and 26 of 114 in Senior Four. Eight students in the technical section had also reported for the new term.
Okello said the school is facing financial difficulties because it had not yet received government grants for this current financial year, yet it largely depends on the funding to support its operations. He appealed to parents to send their children back to school even if they had not acquired all the basic necessities.
At Dr. Obote College Boroboro, the deputy headteacher in charge of administration, Ogwang Tom, said the school opened the term on Monday, September 14, and had registered 947 students by Thursday.
The school has 213 UCE candidates and 128 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) candidates who are undergoing intensive preparations ahead of their examinations.
Ogwang said the school expects improved examination results and is targeting a total enrolment of 1,200 students by the end of the week. He urged parents experiencing financial difficulties to engage the school administration to find possible solutions that would enable their children to continue with their studies.
At Lira Green Hill Secondary School, headteacher Arwata Michael said only 180 students had reported by Wednesday, September 16, out of an enrolment of more than 900.
Arwata appealed to parents to engage the school administration so that their children could resume classes even before completing school fees. He said the school is prepared for the 2026 UCE examinations, with 98 candidates registered.
Arwata expressed optimism that the candidates’ preparations would translate into improved performance, with many expected to obtain grades A and B.
The low attendance comes as schools enter a critical period of the academic year, with national examinations scheduled to begin in October.
According to the 2026 academic calendar, the third term opened on September 14 and is scheduled to close on December 4. UCE candidates are expected to begin their examinations with theory papers on October 12, following a briefing on October 8.
UACE examinations are expected to run from November into early December.