education 28 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Buvuma Leaders Intervene as Parents Boycott School Fees Over Presidential Pledge
Leaders in Buvuma District have stepped in to prevent the closure of boarding sections in three public secondary schools. The closures were planned after parents stopped paying fees, citing a presidential promise of free boarding education. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/buvuma-leaders-halt-closure-of-school-boarding-sections-as-parents-boycott-fees-5611770
Leaders in Buvuma District have intervened to halt the planned closure of boarding sections at three public secondary schools, including Bwema Seed Secondary School and Buvuma College School. The decision to close the boarding facilities, scheduled for October 1, 2026, was a response to parents boycotting fees. This action stems from an alleged presidential pledge of free boarding education made during past campaigns in the district.
Headteachers from Nairambi Seed School, Buvuma College School, and Bweema Seed School had notified the Chief Administrative Officer of their intention to shut down the boarding sections. They explained that many students, some traveling up to 70 kilometers from islands like Lwaje, Lyabaana, and Lubya, rely on boarding facilities due to the impracticality of daily commutes. The fees in question range from Shs250,000 to Shs300,000.
State Minister for Fisheries Robert Migadde Ndugwa, along with Buvuma Woman MP Judith Naggujja and other district officials, attended a crisis meeting to address the situation. Minister Migadde emphasized that boarding is a necessity for students in Buvuma, given the district’s geography of 52 separate islands. He noted a significant drop in student attendance, with one school reporting only 50 percent of its usual enrollment.
Minister Migadde clarified that parents seem to have misinterpreted the President’s pledge, which has not yet been implemented. He urged parents to continue paying fees while awaiting the fulfillment of the presidential promise. MP Naggujja also cautioned against over-reliance on free education and highlighted the need for more secondary and even primary schools in underserved sub-counties.
Acting Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo stated he was unaware of the specific situation but pledged to investigate and visit the islands to find a lasting solution. While government policy designates seed schools as tuition-free for day scholars, special considerations have been promised for hard-to-reach areas like the islands.