Eliminating Ghost Teachers: Education Ministry Introduces New Rule for Confirmation of Appointed Teachers

A new administrative directive circulating within Uganda’s education sector has introduced an additional requirement for teachers seeking confirmation in appointment, in what officials describe as part of broader efforts to streamline personnel management and ensure accountability.

The communication, issued by Dr. Asuman Lukwago, Permanent Secretary of the Education Service Commission (ESC), is addressed to Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The letter has also been copied to key stakeholders, including the Chairperson of the Education Service Commission, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, and headteachers of government and grant-aided secondary schools, signaling a system-wide rollout.

It references existing recruitment guidelines while signaling a procedural adjustment that affects all applicants under consideration for confirmation.

According to the letter dated April 13, 2026, the Commission emphasized the importance of stricter verification processes.

“Reference is made to the Education Service Commission Recruitment Guidelines and Checklists for submission to the Education Service Commission,” wrote Dr Lukwago.

The correspondence goes on to highlight concerns identified during recent reviews of submissions made to the Commission.

“The Commission has noted the need to confirm the real identity of each submitted applicant for confirmation. It is therefore imperative that each applicant should attach a photocopy of his/her National Identity Card,” noted Lukwago.

Officials say the move is intended to strengthen verification mechanisms within the education service, particularly at a time when questions around payroll integrity and staffing accuracy have persisted in parts of the public sector.

The directive formally introduces the new requirement with immediate operational implications.

“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that with effect from 1st April 2026, each submission in respect of application for confirmation in service, should have a photocopy of his/her National Identity Card, in addition to the already required documents,” the ESC secretary further wrote.

While the letter does not explicitly mention “ghost teachers,” the requirement is widely interpreted as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate non-existent or improperly documented staff from government payrolls—an issue that has previously affected Uganda’s education system.

A 2022 verification exercise that uncovered more than 1,000 “ghost” teachers on the government payroll.

Many of these individuals reportedly used forged appointment letters or failed to appear for validation, raising concerns about systemic fraud and weak oversight mechanisms within the recruitment process.

Inconsistencies in the wage bill led to the discovery of hundreds of ghost teachers in secondary schools, following inspections and verification exercises by education officials.

Other studies have also shown that Uganda loses billions of shillings annually due to ghost workers, often linked to weak payroll systems and collusion among officials.

Education officials say the measure aligns with the Commission’s broader mission of ensuring “an efficient, professional, accountable, transparent and motivated education service,” as Uganda continues to tighten oversight across public institutions.

Over 1,600 ghost teachers were found on payroll while, overall, 4,000 ghost workers were discovered on the public service payroll, as reported Here, There and Over There.