Mbale High parents defy govt ban, retain sh80,000 school fees
During a heated weekend meeting, parents of Mbale High School defied a government ban on extra school charges and voted unanimously to maintain a voluntary PTA contribution of sh80,000 per learner to save the institution from an operational crisis.
Local Government minister Balaam Barugahara. (File)
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The ongoing anti-corruption crackdown in Bugisu sub-region has sparked off a heavy backlash from Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) and local leaders, who accuse the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) and local government minister Balaam Barugahara of harassing, victimising, and intimidating school headteachers in the area.
The PTA members and local leaders raised the concern during the Mbale High School Annual General Meeting held at the school premises on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
During a heated weekend meeting, parents of Mbale High School defied a government ban on extra school charges and voted unanimously to maintain a voluntary PTA contribution of sh80,000 per learner to save the institution from an operational crisis.
The friction comes after minister Barugahara recently accused school administrators of collecting illegal fees and suspended them forthwith.
During his visit to Bugisu recently, minister Barugahara, who was in the company of SHACU officials, ordered the immediate interdiction of several top Mbale district and school officials over suspected payroll fraud, abuse of office, and inflating student enrollment numbers.
Nathan Walyawula, on behalf of other parents, told the meeting that headteachers in the area, such as those at Bumageni Army Barracks Primary School and Naiku Primary School, were arrested for allegedly collecting "unauthorised fees" and registering ghost learners to cheat the capitation grant system.
"Prominent secondary institutions in the area, including Mbale High School (headed by Steven Wambalo) and Nkoma Secondary School have faced intense scrutiny regarding compliance with government free education mandates and student fee structures," Walyawula said.
Filling funding gaps
Leaders like Mbale Mayor Joyce Nandudu Kidulu argued that school heads are being unfairly targeted for levying extra fees that are absolutely necessary to cover severe government funding deficits.
She maintained that additional collections are not "illegal extortion" but are transparently approved through official school PTA and Board of Governors' resolutions.
Representatives from regional cultural and political institutions have also condemned the deployment of police and military to arrest educators, stating that it disrupts learning environments and demeans qualified professionals.
PTAs in government-aided schools like Mbale High School have historically mobilised voluntary or supplementary contributions such as development and lunch fees to bridge funding gaps, run daily operations, and improve infrastructure.
However, the Government policy strictly prohibits charging unauthorised extra fees in government-aided institutions, leading to the ongoing debate regarding collection of extra fees.
Local education inspectors, who preferred anonymity, said PTA contributions have traditionally assisted with shortfalls in institutional management, utilities, and minor development projects when government disbursements fall short.
Mbale High School headteacher Steven Wambalo informed the parents that the school faces a severe staffing deficit, with only 62 teachers currently on the Government payroll.
To bridge the gap, Wambalo said the school survives on an additional 70 privately employed teachers and support staff, whose welfare and salaries depend entirely on parental contributions.
"The Government grant alone cannot fully fund critical services, staff welfare, and infrastructure projects needed for a population this size," Wambalo said.
The Chairperson of Mbale High School PTA, Abdul Malik Namisi, said parents had agreed to continue paying the fees after the headteacher had explained to them about the challenges that the school is facing.
Ezra Nabende, another parent, noted that it was important that parents make contributions to the school for the good of their children. Nabende said that, having listened to the headteacher's report in which he cited enormous challenges, including understaffing, he had to vote for reinstating the voluntary payment of school fees.
"The only contentious issue the parents raised was about the increment that the school made, raising the fees from sh80,000 to sh100,000, but we have agreed to get back to paying sh80,000," Nabende said.
Mbale City Mayor (Kidulu) urged parents not to be distracted by politicians, saying parents should focus on the academic performance of their children by supporting the school's needs.