Government Tightens Rules for School Boarding Sections

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports has introduced tighter rules for schools that want to run boarding sections, requiring official ministry approval before boarding facilities can operate. According to Nile Post, the new conditions focus on learner safety and welfare and cover infrastructure, sanitation, fire safety, security and staffing.

The ministry presented the requirements in Parliament through Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports). He said boarding sections must be properly authorised, adequately resourced and subject to regular inspection. Schools will need to provide suitable sleeping space, ventilation, sanitation and clearly marked emergency exits, while dormitories must be built for residential use or otherwise lawfully approved for that purpose. Facilities used for teaching, such as classrooms, laboratories and libraries, should not be converted into boarding space.

The rules also require functional firefighting equipment, safe electrical installations, trained personnel and other protections for learners. The ministry says the measures are meant to reduce risks linked to overcrowding, poor infrastructure and weak emergency preparedness. In the broader context of Uganda’s education sector, school fires and overcrowded dormitories have long been recurring concerns, which has increased pressure for stronger enforcement.

Nile Post reports that some MPs have questioned whether the standards can be enforced immediately, urging government to first address existing infrastructure gaps. The ministry also cautioned against schools expanding boarding sections mainly to attract more pupils or revenue.