How To Register A School In Uganda

What Is A School?

A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools.

How To Register A School In Uganda?

The procedure for licensing a school/institution is as follows:-

Proprietor collects forms for licensing from MoES HQ/district/Municipal Education Office and fills them in triplicate following requirements as listed above.

The proprietor seeks inspection of the school/institution by DIS/MIS and D/MHI to assess compliance with the requirements.

The District/Municipal Inspectors of Schools (D/MIS) and District/Municipal Health Inspectors (D/MHI) after inspection write detailed inspection reports, and endorse the application forms and forwards to DEO/MEO to endorse application form as well.

The District/Municipal Education Officer forwards (3) three copies of the application forms and the relevant supporting documents on (3) three files to the PS/ES (in case of post primary) and CAO/Town Clerk (in case of Primary).

The PS/ES (in case of post primary), CAO/Town Clerk (in case of primary), basing on the reports or recommendations from the district or a report following a physical inspection by the inspectors, approves or rejects the application for licensing.

The PS/ES/ CAO/Town Clerk upon approval awards an operational licence to the school/institution to last for (2) two school years as stipulated in Section 32 of the Education –( Pre- Primary , Primary and Post- Primary)  Act 2008, and copies of the licence are also sent to the Director for Directorate of Education Standards, District/Municipal Education Officer, and District/Municipal Inspector of Schools.

MoES/DEO/MEO retains one file; the second file is for the DEO (in case of post primary) and the third file is for the school. Proprietor ensures that the school is given a copy.

Six months to the expiry of the two-year licence, the proprietor collects from the MoES (Headquarter), District/Municipal Education Offices a form for Registration.

In case the school does not qualify for registration, the proprietor must apply for renewal of license within one month of expiry of the license and it is granted once. License renewal is for one year only. If at the end of the year renewal the proprietor is not ready to register the school, it will be closed summarily by PS/ES.

All new schools/institutions should start at the beginning of the academic year as set out in the schools/institutions calendar issued from time to time by the Ministry of Education and Sports. 

Applications for licensing schools, such as Pre – Primary, Primary and Secondary schools, should therefore be submitted to the PS/ES /CAO/Town Clerk starting from June.  Licenses will be issued by the 30th December so that schools can start in January or February of the preceding year. 

The proprietor must provide copies of the occupancy permit for the school structures

Note:

  1. All the above apply to one site only. Any new/subsequent sites/extensions MUST be processed separately and independently.
  2. The school opens to the general public at the beginning of the calendar year.

Requirements For Operation Of A School

  • Application form duly signed by District Health Inspector, D.I.S and D.E.O
  • Land Title/Sales agreements
  • Tenants Agreements:  Not less than 4 years
  • Bank statement and proof of financing (recent 3 months)
  • Staff Certificate (photocopies verified by Teacher Instructional and Training Department – floor legacy Towers) NB: Original copies of teachers’ registration certificates to be provided and photocopies of National Identity Cards
  • Partnership Dees/Articles of Association
  • Proprietor’s CV’s and photograph (s)
  • L.C III Recommendation Letter
  • Head teacher’s CV’s and photograph
  • Site layout (to be technically drawn and approved)
  • Signed -Appointment letters/contracts for all teaching and non-teaching staff & acceptance letter for each staff.
  • School rules/Code of conduct approved by the BOG’s and/or Management Committee
  • Proprietors photograph
  • Detailed School Inspector’s Report
  • Detailed School Inspector’s Report
  • 3 Referees, men or women of standing in society from the school eg:  LC.1 chairperson,  LC 1 secretary for Education and a local religious/opinion leader
  • L.C III Chairperson’s letter confirming that the school is within the sub-county education plan.
  • Photographs of the children/pupils/students showing:
    • Children on assembly
    • Children in class
    • Empty classes 
    • Children in co-curricular activities.

The Directorate of Education Standards To Register A School In Uganda


Without an inspection report from the DES, a school cannot acquire a license to operate. The approval is subject to this report, which is presented to the Director of Education. Moses Otyek, the DES director, says the body looks out for minimum requirements, key among which are:The school must have a minimum number of classrooms, depending on the level of the school. The school structures should meet building specifications of the works ministry.Each school must have a qualified headteacher registered with the education ministry.The headteacher must also have a minimum teaching experience of five years.
Primary schools should have a minimum of seven teachers, secondary a minimum of 12.All the teachers must be trained and registered with the education ministry. Some of the schools which were closed had headteachers who are S.4 graduates.There is a school in Nakasongola with an S.4 headteacher. The teachers are also S4 and S6 leavers,Otyek said.In secondary schools the recommended minimum is 40 students per class and 20 for nursery schools per class.

What Do I Need To Start A Primary School In Uganda?

  1. Qualified Head teacher not below Grade Teaching Certificate in primary education,and must be registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports.
  2. A list of all teachers registered and/or licensed with Ministry of Education and Sports.

How Can I Create My Own School?

  1. Identify Your Niche. 36-24 Months Before Opening.
  2. Form a Committee. 24 Months Before Opening.
  3. Find a Home. 20 Months Before Opening.
  4. Incorporate. 18 Months Before Opening.
  5. Develop a Business Plan. 18 Months Before Opening.
  6. Develop a Budget. 18 Months Before Opening.
  7. Tax-Exempt Status.
  8. Choose Key Staff Members.

How Do I Start A Nursery School In Uganda?

  1. To obtain a Nursery School-Grade 1 License/Permit in Uganda the applicant has to approach the Municipal/District Education office to which his area belongs to start the process .
  2. Pick the application Form and fill all the required section as prescribed by the Authority.

How Much Money Does It Take To Start A School?

Therefore, starting a private school is a significant commission, but is known to be very lucrative. In the United states, it will cost about Ugx 1057446900.00 to Ugx 1762411500.00 to start a standard small-scale private school, with startup costs having the potential to climb up to Ugx 3524.82 million.

How Do You Create An Online School?

  1. Step 1: Choose a Platform to Build Your Online Courses.
  2. Step 2: Validate Your Online Course Idea.
  3. Step 3: Find a Profitable Topic for your Online Course.
  4. Step 4: Your School’s Branding and Website.
  5. Step 5: The Tools You Will Need.
  6. Step 6: Connect the Analytics and Know Your Numbers.
  7. Step 7: Sales & Marketing Features.

What Are The Education Policies In Uganda?

The system of education in Uganda has a structure of 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education (divided into 4 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary school), and 3 to 5 years of post-secondary education. Education in Uganda is administered in English.

What Is The Education System Like In Uganda?

School education in Uganda consists of three levels of varying length: seven years of elementary, four years of lower secondary, and two years of upper secondary education. Elementary education is the only compulsory level, and, since the introduction of UPE, is free for all Ugandan children age six to 13.

How Do School Businesses Make Profit?

  1. Fees. The most important factor that determines the profitability of the business is fees.
  2. Cost of Running the Business.
  3. Reputation and Brand of the School.
  4. Good HR Policy.
  5. Effective Ways to Save Costs the Right Way.