Kampala, Uganda: The Ministry of Education and Sports has dismissed widespread social media claims that schools across Uganda are set to close over Ebola concerns, assuring parents, learners and education stakeholders that learning will continue uninterrupted.
The clarification follows the circulation of videos and social media messages alleging that education institutions would be shut down, triggering anxiety among parents, teachers and school administrators.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Ministry Spokesperson, Dr Dennis Mugimba, urged the public to disregard the unverified reports and rely only on information issued through official government channels.
“Please ignore videos and social media messages speculating about the closure of education institutions. Parents and heads of institutions of learning are urged to remain vigilant and observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as released by the Ministry of Health. Only trust information from authorized Government of Uganda sources as you continue with normal learning routines in a safe manner,” Mugimba said.
The ministry emphasized that there are currently no plans to close schools and that all learning institutions should continue operating normally while adhering to public health guidelines.
The statement reinforces guidance issued by the Ministry of Health Uganda on May 27, which confirmed that schools in districts bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo would remain open despite heightened surveillance and monitoring measures.
According to health authorities, schools in border districts have been instructed to strictly implement Ministry of Health Standard Operating Procedures aimed at safeguarding learners, teachers and support staff.
As part of the precautionary measures, school administrators have been directed to identify learners who recently travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo and ensure their temperatures are monitored and recorded daily for a period of 21 days.
Health officials say the measure is intended to support early detection and rapid response should any suspected case arise.
The Ministry of Health has also instructed districts along the Uganda-DRC border to designate health facilities capable of receiving and monitoring any learner who develops symptoms such as fever during the observation period.
The government has stressed that the measures are preventive and should not be interpreted as a signal of an impending lockdown or closure of schools. Instead, authorities say the directives are intended to strengthen preparedness while ensuring that education activities continue without disruption.
Parents, teachers and school administrators have been urged to remain calm, avoid sharing unverified information and seek updates only from official Government of Uganda communication channels.
With schools remaining open and health monitoring systems in place, government maintains that the education sector can continue operating safely while protecting the health and wellbeing of learners nationwide.
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