Sex education in schools
The High Court has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOE) to set up a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) policy to handle sex education in schools within two years.
High Court judge, Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe has directed that a policy is instituted to guide the teaching and implementation of the subject.
Justice Mugambe made the ruling following a petition by religious leaders over two years ago opposing a sexuality education framework introduced by the MOE.
Some of the areas of contention were the proposed young age of three years as the start of education and the decision to give teachers the responsibility to implement the work.
In 2016, Parliament directed on the ban of teaching and training teachers on Comprehensive Sexuality because it would expose children to age inappropriate materials like books that would be accessible in schools.
In her judgement, Justice Mugambe has reinstated sex education in schools saying it is the duty of the state to provide adolescents with accurate information on how to protect their health and development.
“The right to sexuality education has been confirmed in the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child which provides that adolescents have the right to access adequate information essential for their health and development and for their ability to participate meaningfully in society,” she said.
Sex education in schools
The judge also ordered MOE officials to identify and work with relevant stakeholders while coming up with the policy to address all issues of contention.
The ministry is supposed to show progress by taking the policy to the court registrar every six months.
