Gov’t clears white veils for Muslim health trainees

By Issa Kigongo

The Ministry of Education and Sports has directed health training institutions across Uganda to allow female Muslim trainees to wear plain white veils as part of their institutional uniform during classroom instruction and clinical practice.

The directive, contained in a letter dated August 6, 2026, follows complaints over Muslim female trainees being required to remove their head coverings before accessing clinical practice and professional training.

The ministry said the guidelines are intended to provide clear direction to principals of public and private health training institutions on the wearing of veils by Muslim trainees.

Under the approved dress code, female Muslim trainees may wear a plain white veil covering the head, ears and neck. The veil must be neatly tucked inside the uniform collar.

The ministry, however, said trainees wearing the veil must continue to comply with infection prevention and control (IPC) requirements applicable to their respective clinical units, hospital departments and skills laboratories.

The approved veil must be made from plain fabric and must not have stones, colourful decorations or other forms of embellishment.

The ministry also clarified that wearing the veil does not exempt trainees from security and identification procedures during examinations and other assessments.

“During assessments, trainees wearing the approved veil must fully comply with all security and identification rules established by the assessment board while maintaining the approved dress code,” the directive states.

Principals of health training institutions have been instructed to implement the guidelines with immediate effect and ensure that all stakeholders involved in the training of health professionals are informed.

The directive was signed by Dr Safinah Kisu Museene (PhD), for the Permanent Secretary.

Institutions seeking clarification on the guidelines were directed to contact the Office of the Commissioner for Health Education and Training.

UMSC PETITIONED MINISTRY OVER VEIL RESTRICTIONS

The ministry’s directive follows a petition by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), which had asked the ministry to intervene over complaints from Muslim nursing students and female Muslim nurses.

In a letter dated April 18, 2026, UMSC National Chairman Prof. Dr. Lubega Muhamadi said the council had received complaints from several Muslim nursing students and female Muslim nurses who were allegedly being prevented from attending hospital practice unless they removed their head coverings.

In the letter addressed to the Commissioner for Health Education and Training, Prof. Lubega said the requirement was inconsistent with the religious rights of Muslim women.

“As a council, we have over time received complaints from several Muslim nursing students and female Muslim nurses who are reportedly being barred from attending hospital practice unless they remove their head coverings,” he said.

The UMSC argued that wearing a head covering is a religious obligation for Muslim women and cited verses from the Quran in support of its position.

It asked the ministry to ensure that Muslim women are able to observe their faith while pursuing education and professional training.

The council also appealed to the constitutional protections for freedom of religion, arguing that requiring Muslim women to remove their head coverings as a condition for accessing education and professional training could amount to discrimination.

“Requiring Muslim women to unveil as a condition for accessing education and professional training not only constitutes discrimination but also amounts to a violation of their constitutional right to freedom of religion,” Prof. Lubega said.

The UMSC urged the ministry to address the matter through dialogue, arguing that Muslim women should be allowed to observe their prescribed dress code as long as it does not interfere with professional requirements.

The ministry’s new guidelines now formally recognise the plain white veil as part of the institutional uniform while placing conditions on its design, wearing and use in clinical and assessment settings.