St. Peter’s Naalya Fees Structure Sparks Public Outrage Over ‘Functional Fees’ Charge

By Uganda Today Reporter

Parents and education stakeholders have raised concern over what they describe as “extraordinary and layered charges” in the 2026 fees structure of St. Peter’s Senior Secondary School – Naalya, questioning the justification behind some of the levies imposed on new entrants.

A copy of the school’s 2026 fees structure seen by Uganda Today indicates multiple charges beyond tuition, prompting debate about affordability, transparency and fairness in Uganda’s private education sector.

A Breakdown of the Charges

According to the document, new entrants are required to pay:

• Application & Admission Fee: UGX 200,000

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• Tuition (Boarding): UGX 2,400,000

• Tuition (Day – O’Level): UGX 1,500,000

• Tuition (Day – A’Level): UGX 1,700,000

• Study Trips: UGX 350,000

• P.T.A Contribution: UGX 50,000

• Development Fees: UGX 150,000

• Functional Fees: UGX 850,000

• Additional Track Suit (Day Scholars): UGX 120,000

While tuition remains the principal charge in most schools, it is the UGX 850,000 functional fees that has drawn particular scrutiny from parents.

What Exactly Are ‘Functional Fees’?

The term “functional fees” is not explicitly defined in the document.

Education analysts note that in many private schools, such a category may cover operational costs such as utilities, laboratory maintenance, ICT services, co-curricular activities, examinations administration, and general institutional upkeep.

However, critics argue that such costs are ordinarily embedded within tuition. The creation of a separate “functional fees” line item — especially one nearly equivalent to half of O’Level tuition — has fueled accusations of what some parents describe as “structured exploitation.”

One concerned parent who preferred anonymity questioned:

“If tuition is paid, what then does functional mean? Are teachers not paid from tuition? Are classrooms not maintained from tuition?”

The absence of detailed breakdowns has amplified calls for greater transparency in private school billing structures.

Rising Cost of Private Education

Private secondary education in Kampala and its suburbs has increasingly become a preserve of middle- and upper-income households. With cumulative charges for boarding students exceeding UGX 4 million per term in some cases, affordability remains a pressing issue.

Education advocates argue that while private institutions are independent businesses, ethical considerations must guide fee structuring, particularly in a country where household incomes remain modest.

Transparency Versus Commercialization

Stakeholders in Uganda’s education sector say the debate goes beyond one school. It raises broader questions about commercialization of education and whether regulatory bodies should require clearer categorization and justification of fees.

Without clarity, ambiguous charges risk eroding public trust and deepening inequality in access to quality education.

As the new academic year is underway, parents are left asking a fundamental question:

What exactly are they paying for?

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