Faith-Based Foundation Bodies under the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) have urged the government to reaffirm its position on the legitimate charges levied by government grant-aided schools, arguing that the fees are necessary to bridge funding gaps and should not be used to victimise, intimidate or publicly shame headteachers and school managers.
In a joint communication issued on Friday, the foundation bodies said although government provides capitation grants to aided schools, the funding is insufficient to meet the actual cost of providing quality education.
The Church of Uganda’s Director of Education Services, Rev Canon Dr Paul Kakooza, said the statement was intended to clarify why government grant-aided schools continue to levy certain charges despite receiving government support.
“While the Government provides capitation grants, these do not fully meet the actual cost of delivering quality education, leaving schools to meet essential expenses such as staff remuneration beyond the government payroll, utilities, infrastructure maintenance, feeding programmes, chaplaincy and counselling services,” Rev Canon Dr Kakooza said.
He said the foundation bodies were not opposing government oversight but were instead calling for the implementation of resolutions reached during a 2024 meeting at State House, which acknowledged the funding gaps facing grant-aided schools.
Rev Canon Dr Kakooza added that any concerns regarding school charges should be handled through established legal and administrative procedures rather than through public condemnation of school leaders.
The joint communication was signed by Rev Canon Dr Paul Kakooza, Director of Education Services at the Church of Uganda; Rev Fr Dr Ronald Reagan Okello, National Executive Secretary for Education at the Uganda Episcopal Conference; and Mr Kombe Theodorous Lyazi, Education Secretary of the Uganda Orthodox Church, on behalf of the three faith-based foundation bodies under the Uganda Joint Christian Council.
