Parliament has rejected a report by the committee on recommending an increment in the capitation grant to government aided schools.

In rejecting the proposal, many MPs argued that many public schools have exploited parents and guardians more than private schools, and therefore they should not be given even more funds from the taxpayers.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who presided over the debate, asked the committee to return with another report after recess, incorporating the concerns of the MPs.

In February 2022, the Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi tabled a motion for a resolution by Parliament urging Government to address the concern of the high tuition and non-tuition fees charged by government-aided schools.

The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among referred the matter to the education committee for consideration. The Vice Chairperson of the Committee, Cuthbert Abigaba Mirembe, presented the committee report to the whole House.

He blamed the high fees public schools charge on the failure by Government to pay all teachers, which prompted some schools to charge extra fees to meet to pay the additional cost of more staff.

Abigaba urged the Government to allocate adequate funds to cover salaries salaries, allowances and wages for academic and non-academic staff in all government aided schools to lessen the burden on the management of the schools.

However, Opendi asked the Government to hand back the schools founded by missionaries and religious institutions and focus on its seed schools in rural areas. She wondered why a public school with established structures, with 70% of its teachers paid by government should charge higher fees than private schools that are meeting 100% of their operational costs.

The Arua City Woman MP, Mourine Osoru said that the report did not clear the ambiguity in the definition of school fees citing cases like St Mary’s College Kisubi whose structure has 29 items; Kibuli Muslim School has 15 items, while Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School has six items. She called for a standard definition of school fees.

Igara West MP Gaffa Mbwatekamwa claimed that the Committee members did not consult adequate consultations across the country and instead focused on schools only in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

Some MPs described the school owners as callous for always increasing fees at the start of the term, and holding parents hostage.

Deputy Speaker Tayebwa ordered the Committee to incorporate the concerns raised by MPs in a new report.