Minister Muhwezi (in yellow shirt) being welcomed by a team of his supporters to Nyakagyeme sub- county headquarters where he held community baraza meeting on addressing gaps in service delivery. photo by Ronald Kabanza
The Minister of Security, Rtd Maj. Gen. Jim K. Muhwezi, has directed authorities in Rukungiri District to arrest head teachers of government schools who send learners home over unpaid fees.
During a community dialogue (Baraza meeting) at Nyakinengo Health Center II in Nyakinengo Parish, Nyakagyeme Sub-County, Rukungiri District, Minister Muhwezi vowed to take action against school administrators who chase pupils away for school fees.
“All government programs are free of charge. If you are caught sending pupils home, you will face serious consequences. Let our young, innocent Ugandans study because the government covers all their educational needs,” Minister Muhwezi said. “…you will face it hot kindly let our young innocent Ugandans study because the government pays each and every thing that a learner needs to study.”
He added: “Due to the actions of some school administrators, the dropout rate in government schools is increasing because many parents cannot afford the high fees charged by these schools.”
Minister Muhwezi emphasized that Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) were established by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to ensure that all children can access education.
“I know there are poor children who can overcome their circumstances and succeed in life through education. If you continue to send them home due to school requirements, how will they change their lives?” the minister asked.
He directed the RDC, DISO, and GISO to work together and arrest any head teachers found sending learners home due to school fees, reiterating that the government fully funds these programs. Minister Muhwezi also noted that the act of sending learners home affects their academic performance.
“Head teachers should deal with parents but must keep the learners in school because it’s government policy,” he said. His remarks followed an appeal by parents, including Paul Twinomujuni, who expressed frustration during the community dialogue: “Every morning, we send our children to school, but within minutes, they return because they have been chased away for fees. You tell us every day that the government pays school fees, so is that true, or are we expected to pay on our own?”
In response, Minister Muhwezi ordered the arrest of all head teachers who charge fees in government schools, affirming that government-aided schools are free of charge. He reminded the head teachers that President Museveni had directed that no illegal charges should be entertained in government schools.
“There are some challenges that threaten to reverse the gains we have made. Why are you against government programs? We have established that illegal school charges are some of the drivers hindering the development of our country. So, to solve this, we banned all these charges. They are illegal,” Minister Muhwezi said.
Minister Muhwezi also highlighted the threat posed by illegal school charges, stating, “There are challenges that threaten to undo the gains we’ve made. Illegal school charges hinder the development of our country. To address this, we banned all such charges because they are illegal.”
He reminded head teachers of the primary purpose of Universal Education—to provide an opportunity for the less privileged to access education. “Reintroducing school fees defeats the purpose of UPE and drives children out of school,” he said.
Parents, according to the minister, are responsible only for feeding their children while at school and for providing basic scholastic materials like books, pens, and uniforms. “Parents should not pay even a single coin as school fees,” he stressed. The Education Act, 2008 places the responsibility of feeding children on parents but not the payment of school fees.
Minister Muhwezi also cautioned head teachers against sending students home due to unpaid lunch fees, which he clarified are the parents’ responsibility. “You have an arrangement with parents at the school, but you have no power to send students away due to lunch fees. These schools belong to the government, not you,” he said firmly.
“I know we have poor children who can overcome their circumstances and succeed in life through education. If you continuously keep on sending these children home due to school requirements, how will they change their stories?” Minister Muhwezi said. “…how will they change their stories?”
In his final remarks, Minister Muhwezi urged head teachers to appreciate their jobs and start income-generating projects, particularly in agriculture, to supplement their salaries and avoid resorting to charging parents. “Many people are unemployed, and this job is a privilege. I encourage you to engage in agriculture or other projects to generate extra income,” he advised.
Minister Muhwezi, who also serves as the Rujumbura County MP, is currently holding community dialogues across the county to address gaps in service delivery.
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