By Swift Reporter
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has called for urgent investigations into allegations of illegal school charges and the denial of education to vulnerable learners at Buheesi Senior Secondary School in Bunyangabu District.
The Minister made the remarks while responding to a formal petition delivered by Pan-African Pyramid (PAP) Speaker and Chairman Andrew Irumba Katusabe during a courtesy visit at his office at Plot 12, Nakasero Hill Road, Simbamanyo Building, Kampala on Tuesday.
In the petition, PAP raised concern over what it described as the “systematic exclusion” of poor students due to compulsory financial demands allegedly imposed by the school administration, despite government policy on Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Primary Education (UPE).
The organisation, which has supported vulnerable learners for over a decade, cited several affected students, including Mwesige Emmanuel (S3), Muhumuza Ivan (S2), and Musinguzi Albert (S1), who it claims risk being pushed out of school due to inability to meet the charges.
PAP Chairman further alleged that the new head teacher, Mr. Anelyn Turyahabwa, had introduced compulsory payments that were resulting in students being sent away from class, denied report cards, and in some cases blocked from sitting examinations.
He noted that while the school previously allowed flexible contributions from parents to support meals and basic learning materials, the new system had reportedly removed that accommodation, disproportionately affecting children from poor and vulnerable backgrounds.
In his response, Minister Balaam strongly emphasized that government policy guarantees free education under UPE and USE, warning against any practices that undermine access for disadvantaged learners.
“Government was paying 20,000 per student, and that has now been increased to 50,000 per child. Nobody should be charging anything in a government school,” Balaam said.
He reiterated that the policy of Universal Education was designed to ensure that children from poor households are not excluded from schooling due to financial barriers.
The Minister expressed concern over reports that learners were being turned away from school, calling such actions unacceptable and contrary to government guidelines.
He directed the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Bunyangabu to immediately take up the matter and ensure accountability from the school administration.
“That head teacher should be referred to the ministry for action and possibly removed,” he said.
Balaam also recommended that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, investigates the matter to establish whether there has been abuse of office or violation of education policy.
“I also recommend that the State House Anti-Corruption Unit gets interested in this matter. Let General Isoke investigate why learners are being chased away from a government school,” he added.
The Minister reaffirmed government commitment to protecting access to education, especially for vulnerable children, and warned that any school found violating the principles of UPE and USE would face disciplinary action.
The development follows growing concerns raised by education stakeholders over the enforcement of illegal fees in some government-aided schools, despite clear guidelines under Uganda’s free education programmes.
Investigations into Buheesi Senior Secondary School are now expected to commence at district level, with possible escalation to national authorities depending on the findings.
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