KAMPALA, UGANDA — Kira Municipality Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), Hon. George Musisi, has urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to adopt flexible minimum standards for boarding schools while strengthening inspection to ensure compliance across the country.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during debate on the Minister of Education and Sports’ statement on standards required for schools to operate boarding sections, Musisi welcomed the proposed guidelines but cautioned against adopting a one-size-fits-all approach that may overlook the geographical and infrastructural challenges affecting different parts of Uganda.
The legislator argued that schools operate under varying conditions depending on their locations, infrastructure and available resources, making it necessary for the ministry to consider practical alternatives without compromising the minimum level of safety and quality required for learners.
Musisi proposed that the ministry develop alternative minimum standards that take into account local circumstances while ensuring that no school is permitted to operate below the essential requirements for protecting pupils and students.
He emphasised that flexibility should not become an excuse for lowering safety standards but rather a means of ensuring that regulations remain practical and achievable in communities facing different challenges.
The Kira Municipality MP also raised concerns about inadequate inspection of schools, warning that even institutions capable of meeting the prescribed requirements may fail to maintain them without effective supervision from the relevant authorities.
According to Musisi, the shortage of inspectors and inadequate facilitation have weakened the ministry’s capacity to monitor schools and ensure that boarding sections operate in accordance with established standards.
He called on the Ministry of Education and Sports to mobilise sufficient resources to strengthen inspection services, facilitate inspectors and establish an effective monitoring mechanism capable of identifying and addressing non-compliance.
Musisi further observed that the challenge goes beyond issuing guidelines, stressing that consistent supervision is necessary to ensure school administrators implement the required measures and maintain acceptable standards in boarding facilities.
He urged government to combine realistic regulations with firm enforcement, arguing that improved inspection and accountability are essential to protecting learners and ensuring that boarding schools across Uganda provide safe and appropriate living and learning environments.
