education 9 September 2026 Nile Post
UPC Warns of Financial Strain on Parents as Third Term Commences
The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has voiced concerns about the significant financial pressure facing Ugandan families as the third school term begins, citing accumulated debt, rising fees, and increased living costs. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/370004/upc-warns-of-school-fees-pressure-as-third-term-begins
As the third school term kicks off on September 14, 2026, the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) is sounding an alarm over the financial hardship many parents will face. The party highlights that outstanding balances from the second term, coupled with the new term’s fees and a general rise in the cost of living, are creating immense pressure.
UPC spokesperson Sharon Arach Oyat noted that some families are prioritizing candidate classes—Primary Seven, Senior Four, and Senior Six—meaning other children may be delayed in returning to school due to financial constraints. Desperate parents are reportedly resorting to high-interest loans or selling personal assets to meet educational expenses.
The party attributes this financial strain, in part, to what they describe as chronic underfunding of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs. While the government allocates Shs20,000 per UPE pupil and Shs175,000 per USE student annually, schools often receive considerably less, falling short of the estimated Shs63,546 for primary and up to Shs885,440 for upper secondary pupils needed for quality education.
UPC is urging the government to increase educational funding and alleviate the financial burden on parents. They have also raised concerns about the new A-Level curriculum’s implementation, particularly for the pioneer Senior Six cohort facing assessments under the updated syllabus, calling for greater government support and supervision.
Furthermore, the party warns that escalating living costs and potential food shortages due to delayed rains could impact school supplies, urging stakeholders to plan accordingly. UPC also criticized a directive for boarding schools in certain districts to open earlier to avoid traffic, suggesting it could increase operational costs.
Amid these challenges, UPC implores school administrators and proprietors to offer flexible payment plans, emphasizing that no child should miss school. The third term is scheduled to run for 82 instructional days, concluding on December 4, 2026.
This report is based on information from Nile Post.