education 29 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Bugisu Leaders Advocate for Modest Fees in Government Schools to Boost Performance
Leaders in Uganda's Bugisu sub-region are pushing for government permission to charge small, affordable fees in public schools to cover gaps in funding and improve academic results, amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal collections. They argue that parental contributions via PTAs have driven success in schools like Busiu Secondary. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/learners-at-govt-schools-should-pay-extra-fees-bugisu-leaders-5407398
Leaders from Bugisu sub-region have called on the government to permit government-aided schools to collect modest fees from parents. They believe this would help sustain quality education and address funding shortfalls, especially in rural areas.
This push comes amid a State House Anti-Corruption Unit crackdown on unauthorized fees. Last week, a head teacher at Bumageni Army Barracks Primary School in Mbale was arrested for defying President Museveni’s free education directive.
Bishop John Wilson Nandaah of Mbale Diocese criticized the arrests, stating that school administrators lack full information on policy implementation. He highlighted that faith-based schools had prior agreements to charge fees for unmet costs, as government capitation grants provide only Shs20,000 per learner annually.
Speaking at Busiu Secondary School’s event celebrating strong UNEB exam results and a new science lab commissioning, the bishop noted parental funds hire extra teachers and support infrastructure where government staffing falls short.
MP John Baptist Nambeshe for Manjiya Constituency agreed, pointing to improved performance in schools with PTA-agreed contributions. He contrasted Bugisu’s poor Primary Leaving Exam outcomes—where most of 7,000 candidates scored Divisions Two to Four—with better results elsewhere linked to parent involvement.
Former Mbale City mayor Kassim Namugali urged engaging local leaders and parents instead of just punishing teachers, warning that interdictions harm motivation. Busiu Secondary head teacher Herbert Weboya credited parents for funding 26 of the school’s 61 teachers, boosting 2025 UACE and UCE results.
State House education desk head Jimmy Nambiro insisted no illegal fees are allowed under UPE, USE, and SEED programs, calling it criminal to send pupils home over unpaid feeding money.
Originally reported by Daily Monitor.