Schools to Close Early over Ebola Outbreak

Schools will break off for holidays two weeks earlier than initially planned as Government strives to contain the outbreak of Ebola in the country.

The Minister of State for Education and Sports (Primary Education), Joyce Moriku has said that schools will close on November 25 and not 9th December as earlier planned. She added that the Ministry of Education and Sports together with the Ministry of Works and Transport will issue new guidelines to ensure children are safely transported to their respective homes without congestion and congregation to reduce the risk of contracting Ebola.

“The Ministry of Education together with Ministry of Works will issue guidelines on measures to follow during transportation of learners in order to avoid congestion at bus and taxi parks,” Dr. Moriku said while addressing the press at Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Health will also issue guidelines on the safe return of learners to their homes in the districts of Mubende and Kassanda before the closure of the term,” she added. Moriku directed school administrators to disinfect school facilities in order to make them safe for students to return next year.

Ugandans have been on tenterhooks since the outbreak of the deadly Ebola in September in Mubende District which has since spread to several other districts including Kampala. As of 6th November 2022, the Government had registered 135 cases and 53 deaths. President Yoweri Museveni recently announced a lockdown in the Mubende and Kassanda districts which have been mapped as a red zone for the deadly virus.