Ugandan Pupils Struggle With Literacy, Uwezo Report Reveals

A new survey by Uwezo Uganda has highlighted a deepening literacy crisis among pupils, particularly in rural areas, where many struggle with reading, comprehension, and translating text between English and local languages.

The 2024 Uwezo report points to a growing challenge in literacy development, noting that 23% of Primary Seven pupils are unable to read and understand texts meant for Primary Two students—a significant rise from 11% in 2021. The issue is most severe in Northern Uganda, where 29% of pupils experience reading difficulties, followed by Eastern Uganda (35%), Western Uganda (46%), and Central Uganda (61%).