Government is set to prohibit boarding facilities in early childhood schools under its first-ever Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy, in a move aimed at strengthening child safety and improving standards in pre-primary education.
The policy introduces a range of new guidelines, including mandatory national licensing for all centres, professionalization of ECCE teachers and caregivers, and integration of early childhood education into the national Education Management Information System.
While outlining the reforms at the Uganda Media Centre, Commissioner for Education Policy and Research, Brighton Barugahare, said government is expanding its role in the sector through enhanced training, stricter regulation, and support for non-state actors willing to operate in underserved areas.
Barugahare added that uniform child safety and protection standards will be enforced across both formal and informal centres.
The policy also introduces Centre Management Committees as a standard governance structure to improve oversight and accountability.
The new guidelines follow a recent tragic incident in Ggaba, where four toddlers were allegedly killed by Christopher Okello Onyum at an early childhood development centre.
The facility reportedly lacked basic safety measures, including CCTV cameras, a perimeter fence, a security guard, and adequate caregiving staff at the time.
Government says the policy is intended to prevent such incidents and ensure safer, better-regulated learning environments for young children across the country.
By Olivia Nabaggala
24th April 2026
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