To the Ministry of Education and Sports of Uganda:

Many Ugandan schools require African students to keep their natural hair closely trimmed while allowing students with naturally straight hair to wear theirs without restriction. This unequal policy reflects colonial-era beauty standards that continue to portray African natural hair as unacceptable in educational spaces.

Natural African hair is not a barrier to discipline or academic excellence. Schools across Uganda have demonstrated that students can wear their natural hair while maintaining high standards of discipline and performance. Yet many schools continue to enforce discriminatory policies based on misconceptions about African hair.

Every child deserves equal treatment and the freedom to embrace their natural identity without discrimination. We call on Ugandan schools and the Ministry of Education and Sports to abolish discriminatory hair policies and adopt inclusive grooming standards that respect African natural hair.