With the provision of capitation grants, Amolatar district local government has directed schools to improve financial accountability and stop sending learners home over unpaid contributions toward Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes.

The directive followed a district meeting convened on Thursday to address government funding and parental contributions to schools.

Local leaders authorised headteachers, school management committees and parent-teacher associations to hold emergency general assemblies and agree on appropriate parental contributions.

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Geoffrey Vuciri disclosed capitation grant figures that many parents had previously not known.

He said secondary schools receive shshs52,000 per student annually under the government capitation programme.

The amounts received by selected schools were reported as follows:

● Agikdak Seed Secondary School received shs66 million

● Agwingiri Girls Secondary School received shs69 million

● Amolatar Secondary School also received shs107.2 million

● Alemere Comprehensive Secondary School received shs138.3 million

● Muntu Seed Secondary School, shs148.6 million

● Awelo Secondary School, shs83.4 million

● Aputi Secondary School, shs102 million

● Namasale Seed Secondary School, shss52.2 million

● Etam Seed Secondary School received shs64 million.

Vuciri said schools must engage parents transparently and ensure that learners are not excluded from class because of unpaid fees or contributions.

He particularly urged Agwingiri Girls Secondary School, the district’s only gazetted boarding secondary school, to work with parents to keep learners in boarding while developing fair and agreed fee arrangements.

Also read: Amolatar district SSA threatens school closures on October 5

Amolatar district chairperson Morish Ogwal Omara reiterated that no child should be sent home over financial disagreements, saying schools should pursue parents who had voluntarily agreed to support UPE and USE programmes instead of punishing their children.

Ogwal also criticised the practice of contacting parents based on their children’s class placement, describing it as inappropriate. He called on every school to hold an annual general meeting and provide parents with proper financial reports.

He said renewed discussions between schools and parents would help school administrators account for funds collected, noting that many schools had gone for long periods without presenting financial statements to parents.

The District Education Officer, Peter Obote, asked parents to present their children for a re-headcount scheduled for October 6–8, 2026. He said each child would require payment in accordance with Ministry of Education and Sports guidelines.

Regarding Agwingiri Girls headteacher’s communication about the return of boarding students, the district administration resolved that enrolment should be maintained.

Obote also directed the school to convene a meeting with parents to review the financial contributions being made in support of UPE and USE.

District officials said the new measures are intended to prevent exploitation of parents while ensuring that schools receive agreed support and remain accountable for government grants and other funds collected.