BY : KABUGHO ELIAS
KAGADI, Uganda — Authorities in Kagadi District have arrested six school directors in an intensified crackdown on private schools operating without valid licenses, as district officials move to enforce education standards and regulatory compliance.
The operation, conducted by district education authorities in collaboration with security personnel, targeted schools that allegedly continued operating despite repeated warnings to regularize their status in line with requirements set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The affected institutions include Nyaruziba SDA Nursery and Primary School, Nankulabye Demonstration Nursery and Primary School, Kitonzi Demonstration Nursery and Primary School, Elite Education Centre, City Light Nursery and Primary School, and Kurukuru Parents Nursery and Primary School.
According to district officials, the schools had previously been flagged during inspection exercises and directed to obtain the necessary operational licenses, but failed to comply. Authorities said the directors were arrested after the institutions were found continuing to admit and teach learners without authorization.
Education officials described the crackdown as part of a broader district campaign aimed at eliminating illegal schools and strengthening compliance within the private education sector. They noted that unlicensed institutions undermine efforts to maintain quality education standards and often expose learners to unsafe and substandard learning conditions.
Inspectors have in the past raised concerns about poor classroom infrastructure, inadequate sanitation facilities, lack of proper registration documents, and the employment of unqualified teachers in some privately run schools. Officials say such challenges are common among institutions operating outside the government regulatory framework.
Authorities emphasized that licensing is a mandatory legal requirement intended to ensure schools meet minimum standards in teaching, safety, administration, and learner welfare before they are allowed to operate.
They further warned that schools that continue to defy the regulations will face tougher enforcement measures, including arrests, closures, and prosecution.
District leaders estimate that more than 200 private schools in Kagadi are currently operating without full authorization, prompting intensified inspections and enforcement operations across the district.
Parents and guardians have also been urged to verify the registration status of schools before enrolling their children. Officials cautioned that learners in unlicensed institutions risk disruptions to their education in the event of closures or legal action against the schools.
The district leadership said the operation will continue until all schools in Kagadi fully comply with national education standards, stressing that the ultimate goal is to guarantee safe, lawful, and quality learning environments for all learners.
