The Shadow Minister of Sports, Hon. Bulasio Zambaali, has sounded an alarm over the widespread and unregulated practice of holiday teaching, warning that the practice is turning periods designed for rest and family bonding into extended classroom time.

Hon. Zambaali, who is also the MP for Nansana Municipality, raised the issue as a matter of national importance during the House sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth on Wednesday, 19 August 2026.

“There is a rampant and unregulated practice of holiday teaching, commonly referred to as holiday coaching, in several private and public or government-aided schools,” he said adding that “Holiday breaks were structured by the Ministry of Education and Sports to allow our children to have a rest and family bond, but some schools have misused this.”

He called on the Ministry to issue a firm directive that would enforce compliance with the official school calendar, strengthen oversight, and impose penalties on institutions that continue the practice.

Speaker Oboth treated the complaint with urgency, describing it as a serious matter affecting the entire country, inviting the State Minister for Education and Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang to respond.

Ogwang condemned the practice saying that the holidays, in line with the calendar issued by the Ministry, are a time to allow the learners to be at home and rest, bond with their parents and guardians.

“The Ministry of Education and Sports condemns the acts of holiday teaching because we issued out a circular to all Chief Administrative Officers across the country and also issued a school calendar which both confirms teaching hours, teaching time and holiday time,” he said and asked the public to report cases of holiday teaching to the Ministry.

“I want to issue out a hotline or help line [0800 377 771] for any member of the public who finds any school anywhere in the country. You can call that number to tell them where the practice is taking place, so that as a Ministry we route police to that respective area or school where the illegal practice is taking place,” he said.

He further cautioned school administrators saying that the official school calendar, issued annually by the Ministry, clearly demarcates instructional periods and holiday breaks, and that circulars issued to CAOs reinforce the timelines and prohibit unauthorised teaching during holidays.

The administrative measures operate alongside the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act and broader child protection provisions under the Constitution of Uganda and the Children Act, which emphasise the right of children to rest, leisure and family life alongside the right to education.

Speaker Oboth reinforced this approach, urging members of the public to use the toll-free line so that reported cases can be investigated and addressed promptly.