Parents express concerns about URA’s role in school fee collection

Kitgum| Parents in Kitgum and surrounding districts have expressed concern about the government’s proposal to allow the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to collect school fees.

In the new draft policy on Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), the Ministry of Education proposes that URA take over the collection of additional fees by July this year.

According to the ministry, this approach aims to streamline the collection process while also improving financial oversight.

However, some parents and stakeholders in East Acholi are concerned that URA’s involvement will exacerbate rather than resolve existing issues.

Michael, a resident of Kitgum, stated that the proposed system may not benefit the education sector.

He expressed concern that the move would have a negative impact on public schools, particularly in emergency situations requiring immediate financial assistance, such as the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fee collected from parents.

Pido Robinson, a resident of Oryang Ojuma, acknowledged that while the move may have some benefits, such as ensuring proper allocation of funds for educational purposes, significant management challenges must be addressed first.

Mulele Albert Clay, the Branch Manager of Centenary Bank’s Kitgum branch, stated that the school authority must learn how to better manage schools.

Mulele stated that several school administrators across the country require the ability to manage resources, supervise teachers, and support students.

“If school management improves, the quality of education in Kitgum District and Acholi as a whole will also improve, making education more holistic,” he said.

He further noted the crucial role financial institutions like Centenary Bank play in supporting schools.

“If we have good resources, particularly money since in Uganda, money is everything and Centenary Bank provides financial services to help schools operate smoothly.

“Schools with accounts at the bank can receive financial support to fund their activities effectively,” he added.

The Uganda Revenue Authority is a government revenue collection agency established by the Parliament of Uganda.

The URA, which is under the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, is in charge of enforcing, assessing, collecting, and accounting for Uganda’s various taxes.

By Vincent Kaguta