The president’s order aims to protect the government’s free education program, which is designed to support children from low-income families by providing them access to education without financial barriers.
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Police in Mbale district have summoned Samuel Wambi Sokoi, the headteacher of Bumageni Army Barracks Primary School in Bungokho sub-county, following allegations of defying a presidential directive that bans government schools from charging school fees.
The summons, issued by Busoba Central Police Station, comes in the wake of complaints about the headteacher’s alleged collection of fees from students at the government-aided school.
The controversy stems from a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni during his presidential campaign, where he explicitly stated that no government primary or secondary school should charge school fees.
The president’s order aims to protect the government’s free education program, which is designed to support children from low-income families by providing them access to education without financial barriers.
The president emphasized that parents who are able to afford school fees should seek private schools rather than burdening government institutions with such costs.
In a letter dated March 11, 2026, Mbale District Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Stanley Bayole, had instructed Wambi to respond to accusations of charging between sh30,000 and sh100,000 in fees per pupil.
The RDC’s action follows complaints raised by parents at a recent Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting, where they expressed their frustration with the ongoing fees collection at the school.
The RDC, speaking to local media, confirmed that the president’s directive was clear and binding. “The government’s free education policy is meant to ensure that no child is left behind due to financial constraints. School fees are only acceptable at private schools, and any government institution charging fees undermines this important policy,” Bayole stated.
Wambi, when contacted for comment, declined to speak on the matter, explaining that he was currently at Busoba Police Station making a statement in relation to the charges. He promised to provide further details once the investigation is complete.
This development highlights ongoing tensions over the implementation of the government’s free education policy, with authorities in Mbale taking action to ensure that government schools remain accessible to all children, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
The investigation is expected to continue as local authorities seek to clarify whether the headteacher’s actions were in violation of the presidential directive.
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