Jinja, Uganda: Authorities in Jinja District have arrested at least 30 school administrators and teachers for opening schools and conducting lessons before the official start of the first term, in defiance of the Ministry of Education and Sports calendar.
The operation was led on Thursday morning by Jinja Resident District Commissioner Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi, with support from officers of the Uganda Police Force under Kiira North Police Division in Buwenge.
Mr Kateregga said the enforcement followed reports that several schools had resumed classes despite a government directive extending the school opening date.
The operation covered at least seven schools, including Buwenge Parents Primary School, Jane and Mary Primary School in Kagoma Town Council, Butagaya Primary School, Blessed Junior School, Bubugo Primary School, Busoona Primary School, and Wansimba Primary School.
At Bubugo Primary School, a Primary Seven teacher was arrested after being found conducting lessons, while at Blessed Junior School, several teachers reportedly fled upon spotting the enforcement team.
“Some teachers saw us and ran away, but we shall get them another time. We briefed them to stop these acts and ordered police enforcement. Tomorrow we shall continue from where we stopped,” Kateregga said.
The RDC said the schools had violated directives issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports, which extended the opening of first-term schools from February 2 to February 10.
The extension was announced by Education and Sports Minister Janet Kataha Museveni, citing security considerations to allow smooth management of election-related activities and to prioritise the safety of learners.
Kateregga said some schools were found hosting learners from neighbouring countries, including Kenya and South Sudan, and were temporarily pardoned on humanitarian grounds.
“We found some schools with learners from Kenya and Sudan. We allowed them to stay but ordered that no teaching takes place until the official opening date,” he said, citing the high transport costs parents would incur if children were sent back home.
He warned that enforcement would continue across the district and that no school would be treated as untouchable. “Those who think they are above the law will face its full force. Enforcement will be non-discriminative,” Kateregga said.
The RDC added that parish chiefs would also be held accountable if schools are found operating illegally in their jurisdictions before the official reopening date.
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