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Pupils, especially from poor families in Mbale District in Bugisu sub-region, are dropping out of school over failure to pay extra fees in government-aided schools.

Several pupils interviewed by the Monitor revealed that they have resorted to working in people’s homes and gardens to make ends meet.

Although, Universal Primary Education (UPE) was designed to enable children get access free education, some school administrators claim that the funds provided by the government are insufficient to cover operational costs. As a result, they resort to charging parents additional fees to bridge the gap.

Last week, about 30 pupils in Primary Two at Bumboi Primary School in Bungokho Sub-county, Mbale District, were reportedly sent home for failure to pay these extra fees. Following the incident, the headteacher of Bumboi Primary School was arrested.

Mr Steven Masiga, the coordinator of Makerere University Mbale Centre, said school management committees in the district connive with head teachers to charge extra fees.

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