As we watch the news daily, a school is being closed. The majority of them have over 100 pupils who are sent home and schools closed by the Ministry until further notice.

One wonders why this inspection was not carried out during the long holidays to enable the owners to carry out the necessary adjustments.

This is a common problem in Uganda, rather than work with individuals and provide them with information and assistance to enable them to improve and continue to provide a service, they just come and act very high handedly not giving the owners time to improve or negotiate terms and conditions.

Let us face it, universal primary education is a good thing, it gives an opportunity to the poor who are the majority to get an education, however, the government-funded schools cannot absorb all the children in the nation.

Privately owned schools, just like hospitals are offering much-needed service at a fee, people have a choice to either take ones' child to a UPE school or to a private school, this choice is naturally dictated by funds.

Much as I appreciate governments efforts to set a standard for these mushrooming schools, the method taken to do so is what I am against.

Truth is most of these schools operate with minimal funds and do not have all the requirements needed for one to open a school and should be checked.

However, I think the ministry of education should largely play an advisory role. Apart from in extreme cases for instance where children are found to be tortured, life is threatened, facilities like latrines or lavatories are not in place, or are in dangerous conditions the timing also matters.

Why shut down a school in the middle of school terms when you could have carried out this exercise during the holidays? They should factor in the interruption of the children's education and also consider the money already paid by the parents.

The ministry officials are also accused of being corrupt and taking bribes. That's why most schools are shut down every year and after reopened in secret.

The Bridge schools are a good example of this, they are closed every year and thereafter reopened, after "seeing" the officials. Some schools are also witch hunted by their rivals.

As our anthem says, “Oh Uganda, may God uphold thee, We lay our future in thus hands”
For God and my country!