Kampala, Uganda: The Ministry of Education and Sports has dismissed as false and misleading social media claims that schools across Uganda will reopen on April 4, 2026, allegedly to accommodate the General Elections.
The rumours, which spread widely on WhatsApp, Facebook and X over the weekend, alleged that government had adjusted the national school calendar to align with the election period, prompting confusion among parents, learners and school administrators preparing for the 2026 academic year.
In an official clarification issued on January 6, 2026, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kedrace R. Turyagenda, rejected the claims, stating that “this information is not true and should be disregarded.”
The Ministry clarified that there has been no change to the approved school calendar issued on November 24, 2025, and warned the public against relying on unofficial sources for education-related announcements.
“The Ministry further clarifies that there has been no change to the approved school calendar dated 24th November 2025,” the statement reads.
According to the official calendar, Term I of the 2026 Academic Year runs from Monday 2nd February 2026 to Friday 1st May 2026, and all schools are required to reopen strictly within those dates.
The Ministry directed headteachers, school proprietors and administrators to ignore any announcements circulated through unverified platforms, emphasizing that the Ministry website remains the only authoritative source on school opening and closing dates.
“All school administrators are directed to adhere firmly to these dates and to ignore unofficial announcements circulated through unverified sources,” the clarification states.
The statement further stresses that “the approved school calendar published on the Ministry website remains the only authoritative reference on school opening and closing dates for all schools and institutions across the country.”
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