How Furaha is helping Ugandan parents keep 100,000 children in school

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reports that Furaha, a purpose-driven school-fees financing platform operating in Uganda since 2024, says it has helped parents keep 100,000 children in school. The company’s model is aimed at a common problem for Ugandan households: tuition often becomes due before families have cash on hand, creating pressure that can lead to missed classes or dropout.

The article says Furaha offers short-term, affordable financing for school fees and works through partner banks and payment platforms. Those partners include Diamond Trust Bank Uganda, Cairo Bank Uganda, Opportunity Bank, FINCA Uganda, SchoolPay, SurePay and the National Private Education Institutions Association of Uganda. Through that network, parents can access financing for more than 7,000 schools across the country.

Watchdog Uganda places the milestone in the wider context of education access challenges in Uganda. It cites UNICEF and Ministry of Education and Sports data to show that financial hardship remains a major barrier to attendance and progression through school. The report also notes Furaha’s longer-term ambition to help 1 million children stay in school by 2028, while expanding its reach to more schools and partners.

The development matters because it highlights how fintech and banking partnerships are being used to address school-fee shortages in a country where many families still struggle to cover education costs alongside uniforms, materials and meals.