Safeguarding international schools in Uganda: country guide

Most international schools in Uganda are private schools in law. The Ministry of Education and Sports licenses and registers them. Many sit in and around Kampala and Entebbe.

Many schools also run the IB, Cambridge or a US curriculum. Some hold CIS, COBIS or NEASC accreditation. Those standards add to Ugandan law but never replace it.

International schools in Kampala must align their internal child protection policies with guidance from the Ministry of Education and Sports. External accreditation standards offer helpful structure, but Ugandan statutory duties must always be met first.

The Children Act is the main law. It defines a child as anyone under 18. It sets out the rights of children and the duties of parents, local councils and the state.

The 2016 amendment made the law stronger. It banned corporal punishment in schools and widened the list of harms the law covers. The Penal Code Act also punishes sexual offences against children.

Under the Children Act as amended, physical discipline is strictly banned in all educational settings. School codes of conduct must define clear boundaries around student physical boundaries, staff conduct and non-violent classroom management.

School leaders should provide ongoing training on positive behaviour support and de-escalation for all instructional and support staff.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development leads on child protection. Each district has a probation and social welfare officer who handles child cases.

The Children Act expects anyone who knows a child is being harmed to tell the authorities. Ask a Ugandan lawyer how strict that duty is for school staff.

Your school policy should go further. Every adult reports every concern to the DSL the same day so the lead can decide on referral. Read our guide to mandatory reporting laws for international schools.

If a pupil is in danger now, call the police at once. Then tell your DSL and the Head. Post these numbers in English and Luganda in every staff room.

• Sauti 116: the free national child helpline.
• 999 or 112: the Uganda Police Force, for emergencies.
• The Child and Family Protection Unit at your local police station.
• The district probation and social welfare officer, for child protection cases.
• Your DSL: tell them the same day, so the school logs and follows up.

International schools in Kampala educate pupils from diplomatic, expatriate and local Ugandan communities. Students communicate in English, Luganda and various regional languages.

When a child approaches a staff member to disclose abuse, listen calmly and offer reassurance. Avoid promising secrecy, and explain that you must share the facts with the safeguarding lead.

Write down the child's exact words immediately after the conversation. Note the date, time, location and observed emotional state before delivering the record to your DSL.

• Attentive listening: Allow the student to speak without rushing or interrupting.
• Literal records: Write down direct quotations rather than assumptions or summaries.
• No investigative questioning: Do not interrogate the pupil or suggest answers.
• Prompt escalation: Hand the written notes to the designated safeguarding lead within two hours.

Ask local staff for a certificate of good conduct from the Uganda Police Force before they start work. Ask staff from abroad for police checks from every country they have lived in.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force issues certificates of good conduct based on fingerprint records. Ensure that all local support staff, including drivers, cleaners and security guards, obtain this clearance before starting employment.

For international educators, require certified criminal record checks from their home country and any prior overseas postings. Conduct verbal reference checks with former direct line managers.

Teachers should be registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports. Take references from past Heads of School. Log every check on your single central record, as set out in safer recruitment for international schools.

The Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019 covers personal data in Uganda. The Personal Data Protection Office enforces it. Records about children and health count as special data and need extra care.

Under the Data Protection and Privacy Act 2019, student safeguarding records constitute sensitive personal data that requires strict technical security and access controls. Keep digital welfare records in role-restricted repositories.

Schools must define clear document retention policies that reflect guidance from the PDPO and statutory limitation periods. When a student transfers to another institution, transfer safeguarding summaries securely.

The law also limits sending data abroad. Ask a lawyer to review your PDPO registration and cloud hosting. The law does not stop you reporting abuse to the police.

Work through this list in your first month. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

• Confirm your school licence and registration with the Ministry of Education and Sports.
• Find the Child and Family Protection Unit and the probation officer for your district.
• Post Sauti 116, 999 and 112 on staff boards.
• Check that every hire has a police certificate of good conduct and checks from abroad.
• Train guards, drivers and kitchen staff in the language they speak best.
• Check your PDPO registration with your data lead.