By Johannah Nantongo
A section of primary school teachers from eastern Uganda have asked Kyambogo University administration to investigate reports that their academic results for a diploma course in education programme where they enrolled four years ago are missing.
The affected teachers, who have been studying under the university’s outreach programme at St. John Bosco Core Primary Teachers’ College in Nyondo Sub-county, Mbale District, say they were shocked when they recently checked the university portal and found their results missing.
The teachers, many of whom are already employed in government primary schools, fear the situation could derail their academic progression and jeopardise their chances of meeting the government’s 2029 deadline for upgrading to bachelor’s degrees.
Mr Robert Ogutt, a teacher at Lumuli Primary School in Busia District, said efforts to seek clarification from the college administration yielded no results, as they were instead referred to Kyambogo University.
“Results for some students are entirely missing, and some have their names completely disappeared from the system,” Mr Ogutt said on Saturday.
He faulted the university for failing to release results at the end of each semester, saying the problem only became apparent at the final stage.
“We enrolled in 2023 and never saw our first-year results, yet we progressed to Year Two, which we completed in 2024. We waited throughout 2025, but nothing came out. Now we don’t even know where to begin,” he added.
The teachers enrolled in the diploma programme following the introduction of the National Teachers Policy in 2019, which requires all teachers to upgrade to a bachelor’s degree by 2029. In response, many in-service primary school teachers joined diploma programmes offered through Kyambogo University’s study centres hosted at former core primary teachers’ colleges across the country. Mr Rodgers Walyaula, a teacher at Nabitsikhi Primary School in Namisindwa District and a student at the same centre, said his name does not appear anywhere in the system despite completing all coursework and examinations.
“We were called to the college to access our results after clearance, but when I reached the academic registrar’s office, my name was missing for both first and second year. Yet we completed our final exams in 2024,” he said.
Mr Walyaula criticised the university for what he described as poor implementation of a government programme, noting that some of his colleagues who enrolled in private universities had already graduated. Mr Ronald Nayele, another affected teacher, said all his results are missing despite fulfilling both academic and financial requirements. He said the situation is particularly frustrating given the sacrifices teachers made to complete the course.
“We are primary teachers who have struggled to reach this point — studying while supporting families and educating our children. Our appeal is that the university should trace our marks,” he said.
He added: “We cleared tuition and met all requirements, but we still have no results.” Ms Rose Mary Akullo, the principal of St John Bosco Core PTC, acknowledged the concerns but referred the matter to Kyambogo University for explanation.
“It is true the students have raised these issues. For details, please reach out to the university administration,” she said. However, Mr Reuben Twinomujuni, the university’s principal public relations officer, said such issues are handled by respective colleges.
“Kyambogo does not mark the papers. These matters are handled by the respective colleges. I have not received any complaint about missing results, but the academic registrar would be better placed to respond,” he said.
When contacted, the Academic Registrar, Ms Anne Begumisa, referred the matter back to the public relations office, citing protocol. A list seen by Daily Monitor indicates that at least 189 students could be affected.