Education
Education ministry set to issue new regulations on study tours
“The guidelines remain in force for they are intended to ensure that all co-curricular activities are planned and conducted in a manner that guarantees the safety, security and welfare of learners at all times," says Minister Muyingo.
The acting Minister of Education and Sports, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, on Friday, July 17, announced the new raft of measures the Government has taken following Thursday’s tragic road crash involving pupils of King David Junior School, which occurred at Kaserem along the Kapchorwa–Mbale Road, where over 20 children died.
By: Charles Etukuri, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Ministry of Education and Sports will be constituting an inter-ministerial task force to develop comprehensive regulations to ensure the safety of learners during study tours and trips.
The acting Minister of Education and Sports, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, on Friday, July 17, announced the new raft of measures the Government has taken following Thursday’s tragic road crash involving pupils of King David Junior School, which occurred at Kaserem along the Kapchorwa–Mbale Road, where over 20 children died.
The minister also announced the suspension of all study trips and tours indefinitely.
Addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister revealed that the inter-ministerial meeting would come up with immediate and long-term interventions to prevent the re-occurrence of such an incident involving learners.
“In the immediate intervention, all study trips and tours that involve learners having to travel in group transport by land within the country or going outside Uganda are hereby suspended. All schools that are already in an ongoing study trip or tour are instructed to stop at a nearby police station for further guidance on how to return to their respective schools,” Muyingo said.
He also noted that they had directed the Uganda Police Force to coordinate the return of learners currently on study tours or trips back to their schools.
“As the Ministry of Education and Sports, we want to convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones and wish a full and speedy recovery to all those who are injured,” Muyingo said.
The Minister noted that the safety and well-being of learners remains a top priority of the Government.
He said in order to safeguard learners during the co-curricular activities, the Ministry issued its guidelines on the safe conduct of the co-curricular activities, including school tours and educational trips, through a circular that was sent out on May 16, 2025.
He also noted that they had directed the Uganda Police Force to coordinate the return of learners currently on study tours or trips back to their schools.
“As the Ministry of Education and Sports, we want to convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones and wish a full and speedy recovery to all those who are injured,” Muyingo said.
The Minister noted that the safety and well-being of learners remains a top priority of the Government.
He said in order to safeguard learners during the co-curricular activities, the Ministry issued its guidelines on the safe conduct of the co-curricular activities, including school tours and educational trips, through a circular that was sent out on May 16, 2025.
“These guidelines are also referenced in the basic requirements and minimum standards for schools. The circular was addressed to all heads of education institutions, the Executive Directors of the Kampala Capital City Authority, Local Government accounting officers, districts and city education officers and all board of governors and school management committee members, who are required to implement the guidelines,” Muyingo stated.
He said these guidelines provide for schools to pay attention, among others, to: approval of trips or tours by school governing bodies; all trips be evaluated for educational value and safety; not permitting nursery or kindergarten learners to undertake school trips or tours; as well as ensuring the mechanical condition of the vehicle is good and the recommended capacity of the passengers as per the licence.
Muyingo also noted that there was a requirement to notify the Uganda Police of the visit, record of learners' mode of travel and the contact information for the teacher in charge and the headteacher.
The Minister further noted that the guidelines provided for movement of learners between 6:00am and 6:00pm, and planning of trips to factor in clear stopovers and sleepovers.
“The guidelines remain in force for they are intended to ensure that all co-curricular activities are planned and conducted in a manner that guarantees the safety, security and welfare of learners at all times. All schools are required to study and adhere to updated basic requirements and minimum standards for schools,” Muyingo stated.
Responding to questions from journalists on why the Government had failed to implement the previous regulations and was now reacting following the growing number of accidents involving learners on tours, the minister warned that this time around, “Kisanja Hakuna Kulala” and whoever failed to implement the guidelines would be held accountable.
He said these guidelines provide for schools to pay attention, among others, to: approval of trips or tours by school governing bodies; all trips be evaluated for educational value and safety; not permitting nursery or kindergarten learners to undertake school trips or tours; as well as ensuring the mechanical condition of the vehicle is good and the recommended capacity of the passengers as per the licence.
Muyingo also noted that there was a requirement to notify the Uganda Police of the visit, record of learners' mode of travel and the contact information for the teacher in charge and the headteacher.
The Minister further noted that the guidelines provided for movement of learners between 6:00am and 6:00pm, and planning of trips to factor in clear stopovers and sleepovers.
“The guidelines remain in force for they are intended to ensure that all co-curricular activities are planned and conducted in a manner that guarantees the safety, security and welfare of learners at all times. All schools are required to study and adhere to updated basic requirements and minimum standards for schools,” Muyingo stated.
Responding to questions from journalists on why the Government had failed to implement the previous regulations and was now reacting following the growing number of accidents involving learners on tours, the minister warned that this time around, “Kisanja Hakuna Kulala” and whoever failed to implement the guidelines would be held accountable.