Why more Hoima parents are abandoning private schools

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A mounting financial strain is reshaping Hoima city’s education choices this 2026 first term, as more parent withdraw their children from private institutions and seek refuge in government-aided schools.

Headteachers across the city say they are overwhelmed by transfer requests from parents, citing unsustainable fees structures and relentless demands for supplementary materials.

Schools long recognised for strong academic performance, including Public Primary School, St Aloysius Government Primary School (Bujumbura, Hoima west division), Duhaga Girls Primary School and St Bernadette Primary School, have all recorded a sharp rise in enrolment from private-sector transfers. Public Primary School headteacher Harriet Basemera told New Vision Online early this week that her school had registered 200 learners by Tuesday (February 10, 2026) and was expecting more. She explained that the majority originated from private schools, and parents consistently attributed their decision to “exorbitant school fees and requirements.”

Philip Tibaigana of St Aloysius Government Primary School confirmed the trend, saying over 120 learners from private institutions had enrolled since registration started the previous week. He, however, added that many children arrived without scholastic materials. 

Duhaga Girls Primary School headteacher Moses Ayebale added that half of the 100 newly admitted pupils were transfers from private schools, with applications continuing to stream in.

Harriet Basemera, a public primary school headteacher said she admitted over 200 learners from private schools.

Parents on the ground articulated the daily pressures fuelling this exodus. Anette Bagayha and John Murungi said the economy is worsening, and private schools are increasing fees and requirements every term, and many parents cannot afford it.

“Schools are demanding exorbitant school fees and a lot of requirements such as sugar, ream of papers, broom, soap, cement and wheat flour, among others and the money used to buy requirements is almost equivalent to school fees,” a parent said.

Hoima City’s principal education officer, Johnson Kusiima Baingana, said ‘parents are making the right decision’.

“It is right to take a child to a school which is manageable to avoid being constrained,” he said, acknowledging that several government-aided schools had registered substantial influxes of new learners shifting from private institutions.