PRESS STATEMENT

Joy for Children Uganda welcomes the recent High Court judgment by Justice Simon Peter Kinobe, holding Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School accountable for the unlawful corporal punishment inflicted on former pupil Naswif Katongole. The Court’s decision awarding general damages for the emotional distress suffered by the former pupil is a significant reaffirmation that violence against children has no place in Uganda’s schools and that institutions entrusted with children’s care have a legal duty to protect them.

The court awarded Katongole UGX 5 million in general damages for the emotional distress caused by the beating, bringing to an end a 15-year legal battle, the court additionally issued a permanent injunction restraining the school and its agents from administering corporal punishment, and ordered the school to pay the costs of the suit. The ruling reaffirms a principle central to our work: that corporal punishment in Uganda’s schools is illegal, and that schools bear direct legal responsibility for the actions of their teachers, whether or not those teachers acted within official policy.

For over two decades, Joy for Children Uganda has championed the elimination of corporal punishment through legal and policy advocacy, community awareness, teacher capacity strengthening, and child protection programming. Working with the Ministry of Education and Sports and partners like, Windle International Uganda, district local governments, schools, and communities under initiatives such as the Uganda Secondary School Expansion Project, the organization has promoted positive discipline approaches and strengthened child protection systems, particularly in rural, refugee-hosting, and underserved communities.

“This judgment matters far beyond one child and one school,” said Moses Ntenga, Executive Director, Joy for Children Uganda. “It sends a clear signal to every school in Uganda: a policy against corporal punishment on paper is not enough. When teachers cane a child, the institution is accountable in law, not just the individual teacher. We hope this ruling encourages more families to come forward, and encourages schools nationwide to take child protection obligations seriously before harm occurs, not after.”

We therefore call upon:

• The Ministry of Education and Sports to accelerate nationwide implementation of positive, non-violent discipline approaches.
• Law enforcement agencies, such as Uganda Police to promptly investigate and prosecute cases of violence against children in schools.
• School proprietors, teachers, and administrators to fully comply with Uganda’s child protection laws and uphold children’s rights.
• Parents, caregivers, and communities to report all cases of corporal punishment and support children in seeking justice.

As an organization committed to promoting and protecting children’s rights, Joy for Children Uganda remains steadfast in working with Government, schools, communities, and development partners to end all forms of violence against children. We reaffirm our commitment to advancing child-friendly learning environments where every child is respected, protected, and empowered to realize their full potential.