Schools across Bunyangabu District are struggling to adjust following the Ministry of Education and Sports’ suspension of all school excursions, a directive issued after a series of fatal road crashes involving school children raised concerns about learner safety.
The suspension has left school owners and headteachers struggling with cancelled trips, disrupted academic calendars and questions over how to manage money already collected from parents for educational tours, and paid to service providers.
School administrators say the directive, while aimed at protecting learners, has also deprived students of practical learning experiences that are central to Uganda’s competency-based curriculum.
Wisdom Secondary School Headteacher Goretti Kabagaya said the suspension came just as students were preparing to travel, with most logistical arrangements already completed, including payments for photography services to document the excursion.
Kabagaya said that instead of imposing a blanket ban, the government should strengthen enforcement by ensuring that traffic authorities thoroughly inspect vehicles before schools are allowed to transport learners.
Ronald Kyokusaba, the Deputy Headteacher of Rwimi Parents’ School, said the suspension has denied learners valuable practical experiences that complement classroom learning under the new curriculum.
He explained that educational trips help learners develop teamwork, independence and social skills, while also exposing them to real-world environments that reinforce classroom lessons and strengthen school-community relations.
Kyokusaba called on the government to tighten enforcement of road safety regulations and develop clear guidelines that will allow schools to safely resume educational excursions.
Several other schools, including Royal School in Kibito and Excel School, said the suspension has significantly disrupted their planned academic activities. At Excel Primary School, Headteacher Innocent Munezero said the school has shelved excursion plans and redirected its attention to preparing learners for forthcoming mock examinations.
At Royal School, teacher Philemon Mugenyi urged the government to urgently address safety concerns and establish comprehensive policies to guide school trips. He noted that Uganda’s competency-based curriculum places greater emphasis on practical learning, requiring learners to move beyond the classroom and engage with real-life environments to better understand what they are taught.
However, not everyone opposes the ministry’s decision. Doreen Tugume, a parent at Rwimi Primary School, welcomed the suspension, arguing that many schools had failed to prioritise learner safety. She cited instances where school buses travelled at night, exposing children to unnecessary risks, and said stricter safety measures should be put in place before educational trips are allowed to resume-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
