EDITOR
In a strong move towards protecting children’s right to education, the Kabale Chief Magistrates Court has charged Kishaija Drake, a 50-year-old headteacher of Rwababa Primary School in Kyanamira Sub County, Kabale District, for wrongfully denying a pupil access to Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
Drake reportedly stopped Ahimbisibwe Ezekiel, a registered Primary Seven pupil under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, from sitting his Mathematics paper on Monday after the child failed to pay an extra coaching fee of UGX 70,000.
Police acted swiftly, arresting the headteacher and presenting him before court on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. He was charged under Sections 52(2) and 58(g) of the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act CAP 247, which prohibits denying learners access to education based on unauthorized charges.
The accused was granted bail, and the case is set to return for mention on December 16, 2025.
According to ASP Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, the arrest serves as a stern warning to school administrators who exploit pupils or impose illegal fees under UPE. He emphasized that education is a right, not a privilege for those who can afford extra charges.
This development has been widely welcomed by parents and education activists, who say it reinforces government commitment to ensuring that every child in Uganda gets equal access to free primary education.
