Principal arrested for soliciting money from UPE students

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Moses Agaba

The principal of Kebiso Primary School, Herbert Musasizi, and its Parent Teacher Association chairman, Twesigye Paddy, have been arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for illegally soliciting money from parents at the public school.

Musasizi, the principal of a school under Kebisouni town council in Rukongiri district, and Twesigye, the principal of the school, were detained following complaints from several parents that school fees were excessive despite government assistance under the Universal Primary Education programme.

State House officials told the media that they had learnt from worried parents that the school charged high school tuition fees, ranging from 90,000 to 120,000 Ugandan shillings for seventh graders.

They were forced into action and detained the PTA president and the principal to clear the matter.

They further mentioned that upon subsequent investigation, they came to know that parents had been making payments to Kebisoni Sacco and that the principal had collected over UGX13 million from them last term.

The state assembly representative went on to say that when parents do not pay school fees for their children, principals usually kick them out of school.

In some cases, even if they are allowed to take the exams, they are unable to receive their transcripts at the end of the semester.

The two have been taken to Rukongiri Central Police Station where the case is expected to be processed and they will appear in court next week.

Nonetheless, our correspondent received confirmation from Rukongiri Central Police Station OC ASP. Kisakye Micheal that they have detained two suspects.

ASP. Kisakye said that although fees are allowed under the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education schemes, students cannot be expelled from schools, a practice that the President, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has condemned on several occasions.

He added that the practice was unacceptable and called on other principals to stop the habit if they were also doing it in their respective schools.

Kisaki said the two would be charged with illegally collecting fees, which is contrary to Section 9 (1) of the Education Act.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is taking tough measures against corrupt government officials, some of whom have been detained.