Police in Kwania District have arrested a school director over allegations that he assaulted a parent who had gone to collect his children, who were being held at the school for holiday teaching.
The incident occurred on August 28, 2026, just days after the Ministry of Education and Sports renewed its warning against unauthorised holiday classes.
The ministry maintains that school holidays are intended to give learners time to rest, bond with their families and participate in activities outside the classroom.
Lawmakers have previously accused some schools of turning holidays into unofficial extensions of the academic term.
The suspect, who also contested for the Kwania District LC5 chairperson seat in the 2026 elections, is the proprietor of a private nursery and primary school in Aduku Town Council.
The school director was arrested following a complaint by a parent, Mr Solomon Okok, who alleged that he was beaten in front of his children at the school compound.
Mr Okok said he went to the school on August 28 to collect his two children, one in Primary Four and the other in Primary Six, who were being held for holiday studies.
He alleged that the bursar initially refused to release the children before calling the director, who arrived, accused him of reporting the school to police over holiday teaching and assaulted him.
"I went to pick up my children... but the bursar refused to hand them over to me. Then he called the school director, who came and accused me of reporting him to the police for teaching during holidays before assaulting me badly," the parent said.
Mr Okok appealed to the government to intervene on behalf of parents whose children are being held at private schools for holiday studies.
He said that although schools officially closed the previous week, children at his school and others were not released home.
He alleged that some schools were demanding Shs50,000 per child before allowing learners to leave, saying the practice was widespread but rarely discussed.
Superintendent of Police Patrick Jimmy Okema, spokesperson for the North Kyoga Region police, confirmed the arrest and said investigations were underway.
Mr Okema said police had also received a competing claim that Mr Okok was drunk during the confrontation, adding that investigations would establish what happened.
He, however, said keeping children at school during the holidays violates Ministry of Education guidelines.
The suspect spent a night in custody at Kwania Central Police Station before being released on police bond on August 29.
Kwania's acting District Education Officer, Mr Andrew Omunu, cautioned school leaders against conducting unauthorised holiday teaching.
He said some schools had been holding lessons in kitchens or under trees near school grounds to avoid detection, and urged school administrators to comply with the official school calendar.
Mr Omunu also called on parents to report schools that keep children at school during holidays.
Apac schools under scrutiny
In Apac Municipality, concerns have emerged that three primary schools — two government-aided and one private school owned by locally influential figures — are conducting lessons during the holiday.
Pupils, reportedly dressed in non-uniform clothing to avoid suspicion, are allegedly being kept in school dormitories where the unauthorised lessons take place, particularly for candidate classes.
There are also unverified allegations that the schools' owners have paid district security officials to allow the classes to continue. The allegations have not been independently confirmed.
In other districts, schools are reportedly holding holiday lessons in bushy areas or, in extreme cases, in sanitary facilities to evade enforcement.
Oyam arrests
In neighbouring Oyam District, police on Monday, August 31, arrested the head teacher of Aramita Primary School, officials from Bethel Nursery and Primary School, and a school cook for allegedly violating Ministry of Education guidelines on holiday teaching.
The identities of the suspects have been concealed because they have not yet been formally charged in court.
The operation was led by Oyam Deputy Resident District Commissioner Francis Behangana following reports that Aramita Primary School was conducting classes during the holiday in violation of government rules.
Mr Behangana said the enforcement team found 26 learners attending lessons when they arrived at the school.
He described the operation as part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with education guidelines and protect learners from unauthorised holiday activities.
The suspects were handed over to police at Ngai Police Station to assist with investigations.
