The Ministry of Education and Sports has clarified that handheld mobile devices such as phones and tablets are prohibited in schools, even as the newly launched Digital Agenda Strategy aims to boost the use of technology in learning and management across Uganda.

" School desktops and laptops within the computer laboratory facilities remain the preferred choice of utilisation of digital tools for learners under a common-user facility arrangement to prevent undue financial burden on parents," Mugimba remarked.

The Ministry of Education's Digital Agenda Strategy, launched on August 22nd, seeks to enhance the utilization of digital tools and technologies by primary and secondary learners for improved education delivery.

Mugimba says the ministry in the final process of developing comprehensive Policy Standards and Guidelines to regulate digital tools' use in schools.

" The Ministry is yet to finalize development of Policy Standards and Guidelines to regulate the use of Digital tools and technologies in schools while elaborating on the roles andexpectations for each stakeholder - schools, teachers, learners, parents, internet service providers, and digital device providers in schools," Mugimba said.

To enhance digital competence and regulatory compliance in the teaching learning process, Patrick Muinda, the ministry's assistant commissioner of ICT, revealed that ministry is considering training teachers and curbing illegal phone users in schools respectively across the Uganda.

Mugimba added that it is the responsibility of the responsible accounting officer in each Institution of Learning in any category - Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Universities/Other Degree awarding Institutions regulated by the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure that internet provided by the institution does not at any time expose learners to any form of unacceptable content such as pornography, gambling, criminal websites, and the like as may be defined in the various applicable Laws of Uganda.