The head teacher of Kihihi High School in Kanungu District, Kenneth Mugimba Oryateisa, is under scrutiny for closing the school earlier than the official date set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
According to information obtained by our reporter, the school closed for first term on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 several days before the ministry’s officially sanctioned closing date.
Kanungu Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju, condemned the early closure, stating that it has become a habitual violation at the school.
He emphasized that all government schools are expected to strictly adhere to the academic calendar as directed by the Ministry of Education.
In a letter issued on Wednesday, DRDC Rugaju reminded schools that each term must begin and end as scheduled, and any alterations require prior written approval. He warned that reducing instructional time without authorization can negatively affect student learning, assessment timelines, and overall academic performance.
“The Ministry will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against schools that breach the school calendar,” Rugaju warned, though he did not specify what penalties may follow.
He directed the head teacher to submit a written explanation justifying the early closure and to defend himself against possible disciplinary action.
In his response, Mugimba stated that the early closure was necessary to allow the school to prepare for hosting two official Ministry of Education and Sports programs during the holiday. These include residential training workshops for Educate Uganda and the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP).
Mugimba explained that in preparation for the events, the school needed time to fumigate the hostels to ensure suitable accommodation for the participants.
The Educate Uganda workshop is scheduled to run from May 2 to May 24, while the USEEP training for ICT and science teachers in Kinkizi West Constituency will be held from May 5 to May 9.
