Mukono District authorities have closed four private schools in Nakifuma-Nagalama Town Council for failing to meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The enforcement exercise, conducted by the Nakifuma-Nagalama Town Council Education Department under the leadership of Inspector of Schools Irene Cherop, targeted Teso Standard Junior School, Creamfield High School (formerly Rains High School), Rockview Nursery and Primary School, and Super Quality School in Nakifuma.
According to Cherop, the affected schools had previously been issued warning letters, inspection reports, and given ample time to rectify shortcomings identified during earlier assessments. However, the proprietors failed to implement the recommended improvements.
“We have closed all the schools that were inspected because none of them met even 20 percent of the minimum standards required to operate a school. Before taking this action, we issued several warnings, shared inspection reports, and guided proprietors on areas that needed improvement, but many failed to comply,” Cherop said.
She noted that some schools lacked essential facilities such as toilets for learners, while others operated from dilapidated structures that posed serious risks to the safety and wellbeing of children.
Cherop emphasized that quality education goes beyond classroom buildings, saying it also depends on effective management systems, qualified teachers, adequate learning materials, proper sanitation, and a safe environment for learners.
She added that the affected schools will only be allowed to reopen after addressing all deficiencies and fully complying with operational requirements prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Nakifuma-Nagalama Town Council Deputy Speaker Milly Nakatebe urged parents whose children have been affected by the closures to remain calm and transfer them to nearby government schools or other licensed institutions that meet the required standards.
Nakatebe also warned proprietors of schools still operating with unresolved compliance issues to urgently improve their facilities and management systems to avoid similar action.
Mukono District Communications Officer Derrick Kaddu said the operation forms part of the district’s broader efforts to safeguard learners and improve education standards.
He stressed that the closure of non-compliant schools should not be viewed as punishment, but rather as a necessary measure to protect children and ensure that all schools operate within established government guidelines.
