The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has cautioned headmasters heading government-aided schools against paying ghost teachers.

She sounded the warning while addressing secondary school headteachers from western Uganda and attending a retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi District on January 25, 2024.

“The government has been stuck with ghost teachers on our pay role, yet the actual number on the ground is low,” Nabbanja said.

She added that the non-compliant head teachers, whom she called criminals, will be held responsible. Nabbanja also warned the head teachers against establishing boarding sections in their schools without the authorization of the Ministry of Education because they are a source of danger, citing the school fires as an example.

In 2022, a report by the Education Service Commission (ESC) revealed that 1,000 ghost teachers had been on the government payroll. Over 600 ‘ghost teachers’ from various secondary schools and tertiary institutions accessed the payroll with fake appointment letters signed by officials, while 400 teachers lacked practicing licenses.