Kaliro, Uganda: The Office of the National Chairman (ONC) has issued a stern warning to headteachers of government-aided schools against sending learners home over what he termed as “so-called school requirements.”
Wabwire Andrew, the Kaliro District ONC Coordinator, said the practice undermines the spirit of free education introduced by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government in 1986.
“When the NRM government came into power, it introduced free education at both primary and secondary levels to support children from underprivileged families and curb illiteracy. That objective must not be frustrated,” Wabwire said.
The ONC Coordinator expressed concern that some administrators in government schools have allegedly introduced high charges under the umbrella of “school requirements,” demanding between Shs100,000 and Shs200,000 per child.
He noted that learners who fail to clear such payments are reportedly denied entry into school premises, leading to increased dropout rates.
“Imagine a parent with four school-going children being asked to pay Shs200,000 per child. That is Shs800,000 per term. This is a heavy burden for ordinary families and causes unnecessary frustration,” he said.
According to Wabwire, such practices risk shifting public anger onto government programs meant to benefit vulnerable households.
Education a Right, Not a Privilege
The ONC coordinator emphasized that no student should be sent home for failure to pay school-related charges, insisting that government has already put measures in place to ensure access to free education.
Regarding meals, he clarified that while parents may contribute toward lunch, failure to pay for feeding should not be used as grounds to deny a child access to learning.
“Those who can afford to pay for lunch should do so. Those who cannot must still be allowed to remain in school. Education is a right, not a privilege,” he said.
Wabwire linked the directive to the NRM’s 2026 slogan of “Protecting the Gains,” stating that ONC will ensure that the achievements of free education are not eroded by individuals seeking personal benefit.
He further warned that reports had emerged of some schools sending learners home on the very first day of term over unpaid requirements. “This practice must stop with immediate effect,” he stressed.
He cautioned that failure by headteachers to comply with government policy could attract legal consequences. “Give every child the opportunity to access free education as intended. If there is non-compliance, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law,” Wabwire said.
Education stakeholders in Kaliro have been urged to work collectively to safeguard access to Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), especially as schools resume for the first term.
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