The Uganda Police Force has issued a fresh security and safety advisory as schools reopen for the first term, urging parents, school proprietors, administrators, and financial institutions to prioritize learner safety during the busy back-to-school period.

In the advisory released by ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the Police Public Relations Officer, the UPF emphasized that school reopening often comes with increased security risks, including child vulnerability on roads, possible criminal activity around schools, and fraud targeting parents paying school fees.

Parents and guardians have been urged to escort children to and from school, especially young pupils and girls, to reduce risks associated with early morning or late evening movement. Police warned against allowing children to walk alone through isolated areas, shortcuts, or poorly monitored routes. Instead, learners should use main roads, walk in groups, and observe road safety by keeping to the side facing oncoming traffic and using designated crossings where available.

The UPF also cautioned parents to remain alert about what learners carry in their bags, noting that some may attempt to smuggle drugs, alcohol, weapons, or distracting gadgets into school. Parents were encouraged to communicate any medical history involving chronic illness to school authorities, including medication requirements and emergency contact details.

For pupils transported by boda-bodas, police reminded parents to ensure that only one child is carried per rider and that proper safety measures such as helmets and reflective gear are followed. Parents were also advised to maintain updated communication with class teachers, matrons, and school administrators and agree on clear drop-off and pick-up procedures for younger learners.

School proprietors and administrators were directed to strengthen access control measures by recording all visitors, restricting unnecessary entry, and checking vehicles entering school premises. Police advised that schools must maintain a visible security presence at the gate, especially during peak hours when learners are being dropped off or picked up.

The advisory further stressed the need for strict verification procedures for individuals collecting children, warning that disputes within families and domestic misunderstandings have previously resulted in incidents where children are reported missing or suspected kidnapped.

Schools were also urged to ensure learners’ health status is verified in line with Ministry of Health guidelines. Administrators were reminded to inspect the school environment for hazards such as open manholes, unsafe buildings, weak structures, cracked walls, loose electrical wiring, and poor latrine conditions that could expose children to accidents.

In addition, the Uganda Police Force called on schools to maintain functional fire extinguishers in key locations and ensure both staff and learners are trained in fire emergency response. Routine inspection of students’ belongings was also recommended to prevent illegal substances and dangerous items from entering school premises.

Banks and financial institutions were equally warned to heighten security during the school-fees payment season, a period that often attracts criminals targeting parents. The UPF encouraged the promotion of digital payment methods such as mobile money, online banking, and digital wallets to reduce congestion in banking halls and limit risks linked to cash transactions.

Financial institutions were advised to work closely with schools to support secure school-fees payment channels and increase awareness about common fraud schemes such as phishing emails, fake WhatsApp messages, and misleading “discount” offers aimed at parents.

The police also recommended stronger surveillance around bank premises, deployment of visible security personnel, improved CCTV monitoring, and close coordination with nearby police stations to ensure quick response in case of suspected fraudsters, pickpockets, or robbers.

The Uganda Police Force says the safety of learners requires joint responsibility and calls on all stakeholders to remain vigilant throughout the school term to prevent avoidable incidents.