Katakwi District’s education department has revealed that out of 51 privately owned primary and tertiary schools, only three are fully licensed, leaving over 49 institutions operating illegally.
Joseph Alileng, the Senior Inspector of Schools in Katakwi, stated that while 40 private schools have engaged with the district education department, only two have been granted legal operating status, while two others are in the process of registration. The rest continue to function without proper licensing.
Alileng emphasised the need for compliance with the Ministry of Education’s licensing and registration requirements. To address the issue, the district has approved support for ten private schools to help them secure official licenses.
These schools include Horizon Vocational School, Toroma Junior School, Toroma Bright Way, Kapujan Nursery and Primary, Parents Nursery and Primary, Rimo Nursery and Primary, Hope Nursery and Primary, Aminasi Nursery and Primary, Zion Nursery and Primary, Usuk Kids, and Akwangala Nursery and Primary.
Simon Bernard Opeded, Chairperson of Private Schools in Katakwi District and proprietor of Toroma Blessed Nursery School, confirmed that only St. Paul Nursery and Primary School, Toroma Blessed Nursery School, and IJB Junior Nursery and Primary School are fully registered.
Meanwhile, Edify, a non-profit organisation focused on improving access to Christ-centered education in underserved regions, has partnered with Katakwi District to support the licensing of private schools.
The organisation, which has worked with over 27,000 schools and 7.5 million students since its founding in 2009, provides teacher training and governance support to improve education standards.
Sarah Tukasaba Okwapu from Edify noted that Katakwi is now the 86th district in Uganda to benefit from the organization’s free services, which include capacity-building workshops for teachers and academic seminars to enhance school governance.
Geoffrey Omolo, Katakwi District Chairperson, urged private school proprietors to prioritise licensing to avoid conflicts with the Ministry of Education.
Similarly, Vincent Savior Okwi, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Katakwi, called on school owners to comply with government regulations.
During a meeting with administrators from 78 government-aided primary and secondary schools and 51 private institutions, Okwi stressed the importance of aligning private schools with national education standards to ensure quality learning for students.
The crackdown on illegal schools in Katakwi underscores the government’s commitment to enforcing education policies and ensuring that all learning institutions meet required operational standards.