"Stop charging Illegal fee in Government schools, President m7 has been so open and has always warned against this. Why would you even punish a pupil for not paying these Illegal fees" - Bayole Stanley while grilling Head teachers in Mbale District.
Bayole also ordered investigations into several government Aided schools in Mbale District.
What You Need To Know:-
The meeting that took place on Wednesday, 25th March, 2026, involved State House officials, head teachers, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Resident District Commissioner’s office Mbale.
According to Jimmy Nambilo, education desk officer at State House and private secretary to President Museveni, there are numerous reports of illegal fees charged by teachers at government-aided schools.
He says schools are charging unauthorized fees, including PTA fees, development money, lunch fees, teacher allowances, transport, examination fees, and registration fees among others.
Nambilo notes that under the universal education program, the government pays 20,000 shillings per term for each primary student, 60,000 shillings for O-level students, and 85,000 shillings for A-level students. Which is enough to cater for all the above requirements without asking parents to pay any money.
He says any additional charges at government schools are illegal, and teachers are practicing corruption, pushing poor parents’ children out of school which the government can’t allow.
Mbale Resident District Commissioner, Bayole Stanley revealed that he’s instructed the DPC to arrest Bumageni Army Barracks Primary School head teacher Samuel Wambi, and has summoned Bubilabi Primary School head teacher William Bikala for questioning over illegal fees collection.
He says it’s unacceptable for teachers to chase children home, causing them to miss studies and potentially drop out, especially girls, when the government covers all education costs through universal education funds.
Bayole notes that teachers are violating the President’s directive on free education in government-aided schools which is a crime according to the Constitution since Presidential directive is law.
He says teachers in Mbale and across Uganda often take students to private schools for exams, overcharging them. For P.7 candidates, UNEB charges 24,000 shillings, but teachers charge up to 250,000 shillings. For UCE, they charge 250,000 shillings (actual: 164,000 shillings), and for UACE, over 300,000 shillings (actual: 168,000 shillings).
Angella Akurut, Chief Administrative Officer of Mbale district, says she’s repeatedly warned head teachers about collecting unauthorized fees from parents, but many haven’t complied.
She says head teachers often claim fees were agreed upon in PTA and AGM meetings, which she disputes. Akurut warns that any teacher collecting money from parents will face disciplinary action for defying the president’s directive, which carries the force of law.
Samuel Sebika, Principal Legal Officer at the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, announces that collecting money from public schools is illegal and must stop immediately.
He says collecting fees at public schools is corruption, which his office won’t tolerate. Any PTA resolution to collect money at government schools must be scrutinized by the Attorney General and approved by the CAO before implementation, with parental consent.
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