By Caroline Nakire
The State House Education Desk has warned administrators of government-supported schools against imposing illegal charges on learners enrolled under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes, with several education officials reportedly under investigation.
Mr Jimmy Nambiro, Head of the State House Education Desk and Private Secretary to President Museveni on Education and Skilling, said charging learners under the universal education programmes undermines Government’s efforts to expand access to education, particularly for children from poor and vulnerable households.
Nambiro made the remarks on 19th August 2026 at his office on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala.
He said Government introduced UPE in 1997 and later expanded the programme through USE in 2007 to increase access to education for children who might otherwise be excluded because of their families’ financial circumstances.
“The Universal Free Education is a flagship programme for the NRM Government that directly addresses the needs of education for the vulnerable poor Ugandans in both rural and urban areas,” Nambiro said.
He noted that Government continues to support the education sector through infrastructure development, recruitment and facilitation of teachers, teaching materials and other requirements in UPE and USE schools.
According to Nambiro, universal education has significantly increased access to schooling, with the number of school-going children rising from about 2.5 million before the programmes were introduced to approximately 10 million currently.
He also put Uganda’s literacy level at about 85 per cent, attributing the improvement partly to increased access to education.
Government currently supports more than 12,551 primary schools and 1,615 secondary schools across the country.
The alleged irregularities include illegal school fees, development charges, examination registration fees, ghost learners and teachers, and misuse or lack of accountability for Government capitation grants.
Nambiro particularly cautioned schools against charging examination registration fees to learners covered under UPE and USE.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) confirmed in its 2026 registration guidance that Government pays examination registration fees for candidates sponsored under UPE, USE and the Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training (UPOLET) programmes.
For 2026, UNEB listed registration fees for privately sponsored candidates as Shs34,000 for the Primary Leaving Examination, Shs164,000 for the Uganda Certificate of Education and Shs186,000 for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. Government-sponsored candidates under UPE, USE and UPOLET are exempt from these payments.
Nambiro described illegal charges as barriers to education, particularly for families already struggling to meet household needs.
“These are serious barriers to the access of free Universal Education meant to benefit the poor communities and they are against the law of Education Act of 2008 and the Presidential directives issued from time to time not to send any child under Universal Programme out of school,” he said.
Nambiro said the Education Desk had intensified monitoring of UPE and USE schools to ensure learners are not excluded because of illegal charges.
He called on District Education Officers, school inspectors, Resident District Commissioners, security officials and political, religious and cultural leaders to identify and report schools violating Government directives.
The Education Desk is also working with Government agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President, to investigate reported irregularities.
Nambiro said several head teachers, school inspectors and District Education Officers were currently under investigation, adding that those found culpable would face disciplinary or legal action.
He said members of the public could report cases directly to the State House Education Desk through 0716095366.
“The State House Education Desk is to continue vigorously with field monitoring exercises in all schools across the whole country to ensure compliance,” Nambiro said.
He warned school administrators against using UPE and USE as opportunities to impose additional financial demands on parents.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda did not introduce Universal Free Education for the rich. Therefore, anyone found charging for free Universal Education at all levels will face the law,” he said.
Nambiro urged parents and communities to report illegal charges and other practices that prevent children from benefiting from Government-supported education programmes.