By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
Government-aided primary and secondary schools in Mbale City have been directed to recruit a number of students or pupils based on the number of classrooms and available teachers to avoid illegal collection of fees.
The directive was given by George William Wopuwa, the Mbale Resident City Commissioner, on Wednesday, 2nd September, 2026 at the Mbale City chambers during an engagement meeting ahead of the third term opening between Mbale City authorities and head teachers of primary and secondary schools.
Wopuwa said that according to the Education Act, extra collection of fees is illegal and has caused a high number of school dropouts, which they will not accept.
The RCC said that any head teacher who will be found chasing away a student next term over fees will lose his or her job because that is defying the government (presidential) directive that students under universal education should study for free.
“Head teachers have been saying that they charge extra fees to pay teachers who are not on the payroll and to expand classrooms due to the big number of students or pupils recruited. Now we shall see what excuse they will give for charging extra fees,” Mr. Wopuwa said.
During the meeting, Wopuwa said that there are many government-aided schools with few students, and questioned why those extra students cannot go there instead of flooding one school.
Joyce Kidulu, the Mbale City Mayor also urged the head teachers to follow what the RCC had directed arguing that they are government employees and can’t defy a Presidential directive.
Some of the head teachers who attended the meeting pledged to implement the directive as issued by the RCC.
During the meeting, other key issues such as inflation of student numbers and rampant absenteeism of teachers were raised, with a warning that this must stop, otherwise appropriate punishment will be served.
