Western Region: Mbarara's academic heartland and its challengers

Mbarara and its surrounds have produced a disproportionate share of the country’s doctors, accountants and civil servants, on the back of a dense cluster of strong schools that compete hard with one another. Proximity breeds rivalry, and rivalry has kept standards high.

The current picture is more contested than the reputation suggests. Established names still lead, but challengers in Bushenyi, Kabale and Fort Portal are closing in, helped by good boarding and a regional culture that takes examinations seriously. We chart the leaders, the risers, and the schools whose recent trajectory is steepest.