Ministry of Education Issues Mass Transfer Letters for Teaching Staff

The Ministry of Education and Sports has officially released the first batch of transfer letters for primary and secondary school teachers for the 2026/2027 academic cycle. The exercise, which affected over 1,500 teachers nationwide, is part of a “Staff Rationalization” policy aimed at addressing the chronic teacher shortages in hard-to-reach areas.

A list posted at the Ministry’s headquarters at Embassy House shows that a significant number of teachers have been moved from “over-saturated” urban centers like Kampala, Mukono, and Wakiso to districts in West Nile, Karamoja, and the Rwenzori region. The Permanent Secretary, Ms. Ketty Lamaro, emphasized that these transfers are “non-negotiable” and aimed at ensuring every Ugandan child receives quality instruction.

“We cannot have schools in the city with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:30 while rural schools are struggling at 1:100,” Lamaro stated. “These transfers are based on subject needs and seniority.”

The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has expressed mixed feelings. While they support the equitable distribution of staff, they have urged the government to provide “settling-in allowances” for those moved to remote areas. The Ministry has given the affected teachers 14 days to report to their new stations or face being struck off the payroll for absconding from duty.