The reforms are part of wider efforts to regulate the early childhood sector, where thousands of centres are currently operating without proper registration or failing to meet minimum standards.
Nursery schools and kindergartens across Uganda will no longer be allowed to operate daycare centres, following a new directive by the government aimed at restructuring early childhood education.
The move, introduced under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy, effectively ends the long-standing practice where pre-schools combined learning and childcare services under one roof. Officials say the change is intended to create a clearer distinction between childcare and early learning.
Under the new arrangement, daycare centres will operate independently from nursery schools and will be limited to children aged zero to three years. These centres will focus strictly on caregiving, social development, and basic life skills, rather than academic instruction.
Responsibility for running daycare facilities will now shift away from schools to institutions such as corporate workplaces, markets, and shopping malls, where they are expected to support working parents during the day.
Meanwhile, nursery schools, kindergartens, and community-based pre-schools will exclusively handle children aged three to six years, focusing on structured, play-based learning in preparation for primary education.
Education officials argue that separating daycare from pre-school education will improve quality and ensure that children receive age-appropriate care and learning. The policy also prohibits daycare centres from introducing uniforms or formal teaching, reinforcing their role as safe, non-academic environments for young children.
The reforms are part of wider efforts to regulate the early childhood sector, where thousands of centres are currently operating without proper registration or failing to meet minimum standards. Authorities have warned that non-compliant institutions risk closure if they do not align with the new guidelines.
In addition, all caregivers and pre-school teachers will be required to obtain professional qualifications and licences, while early childhood centres must undergo formal registration and approval processes.
The government says the changes are necessary to address gaps in early learning, including high rates of school repetition linked to poor foundational education.
The policy is set to be officially launched on April 30 in Kampala, after which affected institutions will be given a transition period to comply with the new rules.
