State House reiterates warning to government schools over illegal fees as head teachers, officials face investigations

What the report says

State House’s Education Desk has renewed its warning to administrators in Uganda’s government-aided schools not to impose charges on learners under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes. In remarks attributed to Jimmy Nambiro, the desk head and private secretary to President Yoweri Museveni on education and skilling, the office said such fees weaken the free-education policy and can block children from poor and vulnerable families from staying in school.

According to the report, Nambiro spoke on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, at his office on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala. He said UPE and USE were intended to widen access to schooling, and that the government continues to support the sector through funding for infrastructure, staffing, learning materials and other needs. He also pointed to the legal basis for free education under Uganda’s education framework.

The State House official said the desk is particularly concerned about illegal school fees, development charges, exam-registration demands, ghost learners, ghost teachers and weak accountability for capitation grants. He added that the government already pays UNEB registration fees for candidates at key exam levels, and warned that schools violating the law and presidential directives could face action.

The report says State House is working with the Anti-Corruption Unit and other government bodies to investigate reported irregularities, while several head teachers, inspectors and district education officials are already under investigation. Nambiro urged local leaders, education officers and communities to report abuses, saying the issue affects school attendance and can contribute to broader social problems if children are pushed out of class.