As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) prepares to hold its parliamentary primaries on Thursday, anxiety is rising over the use of schools as polling stations and the potential for election-related violence to disrupt learning.
With just hours to the vote, the Ministry of Education and Sports has left the decision to local authorities.
Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, confirmed that District Education Officers (DEOs) and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) have been given discretion to approve or deny the use of school premises for voting.
Dr. Turyagyenda emphasized that if schools are designated as polling centers, learners must be kept at home to ensure their safety. “The safety of students remains paramount,” she said.
Throughout Uganda, schools frequently serve as public meeting spaces and polling centers.
However, with the NRM’s internal elections often characterized by intense competition and, at times, violence, many education officials and head teachers have expressed concern.
In many NRM strongholds where opposition presence is minimal the party primaries function as de facto elections.
These contests are frequently hotly contested, occasionally leading to chaos at polling centers.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, the balancing act between civic participation and educational continuity remains delicate.
Local leaders now face the challenge of safeguarding both democratic processes and the learning environment.
By Olivia Nabaggala
16th July 2025
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