Filbert Baguma, General Secretary of the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), has identified examination malpractice and poor teacher welfare as critical factors behind the drop.
For the first time in years, Kampala failed to lead in the number of candidates achieving aggregates of four to nine.
The city also fell out of the top ten best-performing districts, according to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
Kampala, long considered a stronghold of academic excellence, recorded just 8,310 first grades out of 31,814 candidates, a decline from 8,871 in 2023—a reduction of 561.
The number of candidates scoring an aggregate of four also dropped sharply from 232 in 2023 to only 82 in 2024.
Baguma challenged the perception that Kampala schools are unmatched in performance, noting that systemic challenges are eroding their dominance.
"It is a supposition that Kampala schools are the best performers. The truth is that many factors, including rampant malpractice and poor teacher welfare, are eroding the quality of education," Baguma told The Nile Post.
Malpractice Exposed
Baguma emphasized that rising cases of examination malpractice have masked the real state of education in Kampala schools. "Some schools focus more on manipulating results by giving learners exams ahead of time rather than equipping them with actual skills," he said.
He added that tightened examination monitoring during this year’s PLE exposed gaps in preparation.
"Tightening the malpractice gap has also contributed to the declining performance in Kampala. Schools in Kampala have spoon-fed learners for years, and when strict inspection is enforced during PLE, it becomes difficult to cheat. This year’s decline reflects a crackdown on these shortcuts," Baguma explained.
He urged the government to intensify its fight against malpractice at all levels, from preparation to the release of results.
"We must ensure that performance reflects effort, not shortcuts. Only then can we restore the credibility of our education system," he stressed.
Baguma also pointed to poor teacher welfare as a major contributor to the decline in performance. He highlighted the economic challenges faced by urban teachers compared to their rural counterparts.
"For teachers in town, everything is bought from shops and markets, whereas rural teachers can rely on gardens for food. When the economy is bad, urban teachers are hit harder, and this impacts learners’ performance," he noted.
Baguma criticized schools that prioritise infrastructure over teacher well-being, saying, "It is ironic that schools can afford state-of-the-art facilities but fail to pay teachers a living wage.
"How do you expect quality education when the very people delivering it are struggling to make ends meet?"
He called for increased investment in teacher training, better pay, and professional development. "The success of learners is directly linked to the welfare of their teachers. Neglecting this reality is detrimental to the future of our education system," he said.
Mixed Reactions to Kampala’s Performance
The underperformance of traditionally top-performing schools such as Gayaza Junior, Kabojja Junior, Hillside Primary School Naalya, and Kampala Parents has sparked mixed reactions.
While some stakeholders commend UNEB for exposing gaps in the system, others accuse the board of unfairly targeting Kampala schools.
"Under-marking Kampala schools could be a factor, but we need to address the root causes instead of looking for scapegoats. Thorough investigations are necessary to understand why Kampala performed this poorly," Baguma advised.
With the number of first grades declining and second-grade passes increasing, the debate over education reform has gained urgency.
Baguma’s calls for addressing malpractice, improving teacher welfare, and fostering genuine learning have placed the spotlight on the pressing need for systemic change in Uganda’s education sector.