Politics 15 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Privatisation Boom Leaves Safety Gaps in Private Institutions
Uganda's shift to privatised services like schools, hospitals and churches has boosted access but exposed users to risks due to inconsistent security standards. Experts call for a national framework to enforce minimum protections and proactive measures. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/letters/privatisation-without-protection-are-ugandans-truly-safe-in-private-hands--5424260
Uganda embraced privatisation through Structural Adjustment Programmes backed by the IMF and World Bank, aiming for better efficiency and competition in service delivery. This led to a surge in private schools, hospitals, financial institutions and places of worship, expanding options for citizens.
However, this progress overlooks a major flaw: inadequate safety measures. Private entities often set their own standards, resulting in patchy protections against threats like intrusions, fires, crowd risks, child vulnerabilities and criminal attacks.
Financial pressures push providers to skimp on security, opting for reactive fixes over infrastructure, trained staff or risk assessments. Coordination with police is weak, turning schools, churches and hospitals into ‘soft targets’ prone to crime.
To address this, a National Safety Policy is urged, mandating minimum standards, audits, emergency plans, personnel training, agency links and penalties for lapses. This balanced approach involves government oversight, private investment and public awareness.
Privatisation enhances access, but without safety, it’s flawed growth. Uganda must prioritise protection to match service expansion.
Source: Daily Monitor