TO: All Head Teachers – Kanungu District
RE: COMPLIANCE WITH MoES SCHOOL CALENDAR AND CIRCULARS
My dear Head Teachers,
Sometimes I sit and think outside the box, loud and clear: If we, the head teachers and teachers, fail to comply with the rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) through its official school calendar and circulars, how shall we blame our students when they fail to adhere to school rules and regulations?
As leaders, what exactly are we teaching these students? It is no wonder we are producing rebellious students who behave just like their teachers. We cannot demand discipline from learners when we ourselves are indisciplined.
Let me make this very clear: It is not the Office of the RDC that sets the rules banning holiday teaching. The Office of the RDC only enforces the circulars, rules and regulations set by MoES.
Therefore, my beloved head teachers, I humbly request you to comply.
Please adhere to the school calendar that is hung in your own office from MoES, and you will find that there will be no problem between any RDC and any head teacher.
For your guidance, I wish to quote the Official MoES 2026 School Calendar as released by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda:
– Term I: Tuesday 10th February to Friday 1st May, 2026
– Holiday I: 2nd May to 24th May, 2026
– Term II: Monday 25th May to Friday 21st August, 2026
– Holiday II (Current): Saturday 22nd August to Saturday 13th September, 2026
– Term III: Monday 14th September to Friday 4th December, 2026
– Holiday III: 5th December, 2026 to 31st January, 2027
This calendar has 260 instructional days and must be followed to the letter. No school is allowed to cut short or extend a term without prior written permission from the Permanent Secretary.
This is therefore to warn that all forms of holiday teaching and coaching are banned. Anyone who fails to adhere to this directive will be arrested and charged according to the law.
Why the Holiday Must Be Respected:
A holiday is good for everyone – psychologically, socially, and financially. A serious head teacher will use the last week of the holiday to prepare to receive learners and start serious work on the first day of reporting.
As your Deputy RDC, I am aware that most schools teaching during holidays do so not to help learners, but to extort money for holiday fees, posho and beans. This is unfair to our community in Kanungu, which is predominantly peasant. Our teachers and learners also need this rest.
My Guidance to Parents During These Three Weeks:
1. Allow children to rest and do individual reading.
2. Engage them in normal home duties and gardening, so they appreciate the support you give them.
3. Do not allow children to loiter in trading centres, bars, or to make unnecessary visits to friends. If you do not see your child at home, chances are high they are engaging in bad behaviour. Keep them occupied with constructive work as we raise responsible citizens for the future.
For head teachers who genuinely want to help candidates without charging any holiday fees, we understand the good intention. However, even candidates need to rest to avoid burnout and to prepare better for UNEB.
I therefore direct all head teachers in Kanungu District to strictly adhere to the School Calendar as set by MoES. Consider the peasant nature of our parents – they need the support of their children during these holidays, and learners and teachers need to recover from psychological burnout.
Any head teacher found illegally teaching during this holiday and extorting fees from parents will be arrested. No school term should be cut short or extended without prior written permission from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports.
Let us respect the law and protect our children.
Please comply.
For God and My Country.
Dr. Ahimbisibwe Gad Rugaju, PhD
Deputy Resident District Commissioner
Kihihi – Kanungu District
