KAMPALA – The Indian community in Uganda has paid school fees for the 15 students who were stopped from sitting for their UACE by the school management of Iganda Top Care Secondary School in Iganga Municipality.
“We have already paid the money. The money has been sent to the school. We have paid for 15 students,” Sanjiv Patel, the Indian Association spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“It is everybody’s responsibility to see no Ugandan loses his or her opportunity when it is not his or her fault. If the parents have made a mistake, it should not be the child to suffer,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Uganda National Examinations Body (UNEB) commissioner in charge of private schools at UNEB, Mr George Mutekanga pitched camp at the school to ensure that the affected students sit for their final papers.
On Monday, the RDC, Ms Eva Kwesiga, the district chairperson, Mr Patrick Kayemba, and the DPC, Mr David Ndaula, rushed to the school and engaged the administration for about one-and-a-half hours but the examinations master, Mr Wilson Isiko, stood his ground, triggering wails from the students.
Mr Isiko said the students were warned to clear fees in time but they didn’t heed to the caution.
“We need money to pay teachers and run the school. We asked them to bring their parents and agree on how they will clear our fees balances but they didn’t,” he said.
Speaking on the matter earlier in October 2019, James Turyatemba the Manager, Exam Management at UNEB, said the fate of students who have not completed their tuition fees by the examination period lies in the hands of school authorities.
Initially, the Uganda National Examination Board allowed all candidates to sit their exams but gave the schools discretion to hold on to the results of those whose tuition had not been cleared.
