Category: Africa

Policy Brief| Improving Internet Access in Ugandan Schools in Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA)

The internet is now a core educational tool, enabling interactive learning, research, and remote teaching. Yet, despite Uganda’s 22.3 million internet subscriptions in early 2025, only 30% of school-going children had internet access at school. High costs, poor infrastructure, and inadequate devices persist as key barriers.

Research by the Internet Society Uganda Chapter across 42 KMA schools found that 81% had internet access—87.5% in secondary schools, 72.2% in primary schools, and 100% in international curriculum schools. Internet use ranged from teaching and administration to e-learning and security monitoring. However, affordability, poor service quality, limited devices, and power outages remain major challenges.

Key Findings

  • Access disparities: Secondary schools have better connectivity than primary schools.
  • Usage patterns: Main uses include administration (88%), parent-teacher communication (85%), research (81%), and security monitoring (62%).
  • Challenges: High internet costs (48%), poor service quality, insufficient devices, and power outages.
  • Safety measures: Most schools have internet-use policies to block inappropriate content.

Policy Recommendations

For Government

  1. Internet Access & Affordability Fund:  – Expand UCUSAF to subsidize school internet costs.
  2. ICT Equipment Grants: – Provide funding or refurbished devices for schools.
  3. ICT in Primary Curriculum: – Make ICT a mandatory and examinable subject at primary level.
  4. Public-Private Partnerships: – Partner with ISPs, tech firms, and NGOs for affordable, quality school connectivity.
  5. Remove Digital Taxes: – Exempt ICT tools from import duties and VAT.
  6. Education-Only Data Packages: – Require ISPs to offer safe, filtered school internet bundles.

For ISPs

  1. Tailored education internet packages to prioritize academic content.
  2. Zonal pricing to make rural and low-income schools more affordable.
  3. Community internet packages for groups of schools.
  4. Extend fiber-optic coverage to underserved schools.

For All Stakeholders

  1. Community networks to share affordable, locally managed connectivity.
  2. Capacity building to equip teachers and students with digital troubleshooting skills.

Conclusion

Bridging Uganda’s digital divide in education requires targeted subsidies, device provision, curriculum reform, and collaborative infrastructure investment. Implementing these measures will ensure equitable access to online learning, preparing Ugandan students with critical 21st-century skills.

Read the full policy brief here: