TAKEAWAYS

• JK Kazoora says rising school fees are placing enormous pressure on Ugandan families.
• He wants government to introduce regulations limiting how much schools can charge.
• The comments have reignited debate on education affordability and access in Uganda.

Renowned media personality JK Kazoora has come out to raise a critical issue affecting thousands of Ugandan families: the rising cost of school fees.

Speaking during a TikTok discussion, he jokingly proposed creating a “TikTok Parliament” to debate issues affecting ordinary citizens, Kazoora used the opportunity to highlight what he described as one of the biggest burdens facing parents today.

According to Kazoora, school fees in many private schools have reached levels that are becoming impossible for average Ugandan families to sustain. He cited examples of nursery schools charging between Shs1.6 million and Shs2 million per term, while some primary schools charge between Shs2.2 million and Shs2.5 million.

“People are truly struggling with school fees. We need to have a law because in Uganda anyone can set up a school and decide to charge whatever they want,” Kazoora said.

He argued that unlike some neighboring countries where education fees are regulated, Uganda’s education market allows schools to set fees with little restriction, leaving parents at the mercy of school proprietors.

Kazoora further noted that even relatively well-paid professionals are finding it difficult to keep up with school fee demands, forcing many families into debt and financial distress.

“We work for school fees, rent and other bills. Something has to be done because the cost of education is becoming too much for ordinary families,” he added.

The issue of school fees has remained a recurring concern in Uganda, with parents frequently complaining about annual increments, development fees and other charges imposed by schools. Although government interventions and guidelines have occasionally been introduced to standardize school charges, critics argue that enforcement remains weak, allowing schools to continue increasing fees in response to market forces and operational costs.

Kazoora’s remarks have since sparked discussion online, with many parents agreeing that the rising cost of education is one of the country’s most pressing social and economic challenges.