By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Parents and students applying for places in Ugandan schools may soon bid farewell to long queues and tedious paperwork, thanks to a new digital platform unveiled by local technology firm Dcode Dynamics.
The platform, called SchoolAdmin, allows students to apply online for admissions from kindergarten through university. Emmanuel Kakaire, team leader at Dcode Dynamics, said the system is designed to cut costs, save time, and prepare learners for the increasingly digital world of higher education.
“We believe this will be of value to both students and schools,” Kakaire said in an interview. “Right now, students applying for Senior One or Senior Five spend days moving between schools, filling out multiple forms, and queuing with their parents. With this platform, they can apply to several institutions at once from the comfort of their homes.”
According to the innovators, the service is free to access for both schools and students. However, schools will continue to charge their normal application fees, which applicants will pay directly through the platform.
At least five schools have signed on, but Kakaire said their goal is to reach at least 100 institutions, including high-end private academies and public schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program.
“We are starting with schools that already have computers, but the ultimate goal is to ensure UPE schools are included. We cannot leave them out,” he said.
SchoolAdmin is accessible at schooladmin.co.ug, where institutions can register and undergo a verification process to prevent fraud. Once approved, schools appear on the student side of the platform, where applicants can submit academic records and receive admission decisions online.
Kakaire said the system also addresses a persistent weakness of existing online portals, which often fail under heavy traffic or are neglected in favor of paper applications.
“What makes us different is that we will follow up on every admission. If a school delays responding, it is our responsibility to ensure the applicant gets an answer,” he noted.
On data protection, Kakaire explained that the new platform employs encryption and cybersecurity safeguards to protect sensitive student data. He added that government backing could accelerate the project’s reach.
“If the Ministry of Education comes on board, it would be a great partnership. With proof of concept and a working minimum viable product, innovators like us can scale faster with the right support,” he said.
If widely adopted, SchoolAdmin could mark a major step toward digitizing Uganda’s education system, where most admission processes remain paper-based despite rising internet penetration.
