Boarding schools face sanctions over unlawful operations

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports says it will move against boarding schools that are operating without approval, citing concerns about learner safety and the quality of facilities. According to Watchdog Uganda, the minister of state for education (sports), Peter Ogwang, told Parliament that the ministry has issued guidelines to regulate boarding sections in schools.

Ogwang said boarding schools must be properly authorized, sufficiently resourced, regularly inspected and run in learners’ best interests. He added that schools are expected to supervise pupils closely, have procedures for reporting abuse, and meet standards on food, nutrition, hygiene and maintenance. The ministry also warned that institutions with gaps will be required to fix them, and that unlawful operations could face sanctions.

The statement was presented during a plenary sitting on Thursday, 29 October 2026, and also addressed the role of boarding in Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education schools. Ogwang said boarding in those schools is voluntary and should support access to free education, not undermine it. He cautioned administrators against diverting public funds to unauthorized boarding arrangements and said the ministry will review whether boarding is necessary in UPE and USE schools.

MPs broadly welcomed the guidelines, though some urged the ministry to strengthen fire safety, regular supervision and accessibility for learners with disabilities, and to account for conditions in hard-to-reach areas. The issue matters because it touches on child safety, school regulation and the use of public education resources.