As schools prepare to reopen for the first term of the 2026 academic year, police have cautioned parents and school administrators to take extra measures to ensure the safety and well-being of learners during the back-to-school period.
Addressing journalists, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the start of a new term often comes with increased movement of children, making them more vulnerable if proper precautions are not taken.
He urged parents to clearly streamline arrangements for picking and dropping children at school to avoid confusion.
According to Rusoke, misunderstandings between conflicting parents sometimes spill over to schools, leaving administrators unsure about who is authorised to pick up a child.
Police also advised parents to closely monitor early morning movements, especially for young children. Rusoke noted that girls require extra care because they are more vulnerable, and warned against allowing children to use isolated or unsafe pathways to and from school.
In addition to physical security, parents were reminded to check on the health status of their children before taking them to school and to share any relevant medical information with school administrators to enable proper care while at school.
Rusoke also asked school administrators to strengthen security within school premises. He called for strict access control, including monitoring visitors, checking vehicles that enter school grounds, and inspecting learners’ luggage particularly in secondary schools to prevent drugs and other dangerous substances from being brought onto schools.
Schools were further urged to address potential safety hazards by inspecting manholes, faulty electrical wiring, and unsafe pit latrines, as well as ensuring the availability of fire extinguishers.
Where schools have swimming pools, administrators were advised to ensure they are well supervised and do not pose a danger to learners.
The police spokesperson also encouraged schools to invest in surveillance cameras as an added layer of security.
“With the new term beginning, safety should be everyone’s responsibility parents, schools, and the wider community,” Rusoke said, urging cooperation to ensure learners start the academic year in a secure environment.
