Wanyange Girls Senior Secondary School has been reported to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) over the alleged exclusion of Senior Four candidates from school for failing to clear outstanding fees, weeks before the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
The complaint was filed by the Women’s Probono Initiative, which is seeking urgent intervention to have the affected candidates readmitted and allowed to continue preparing for their final examinations.
Wanyange Girls is a government-aided public boarding school in Jinja District.
According to the complaint dated October 6, 2026, the school on September 28 notified parents of Senior Four students that those with outstanding fee balances would be sent home.
“Dear parents of Senior Four students at Wanyange Girls SS, the deadline for paying ALL fees balances is this week on Thursday, 1st October 2026. Thereafter, any student with pending balances will be sent home to do the needful,” the school said in a notice cited by the organisation.
The Women’s Probono Initiative said the notice caused anxiety among parents and students because the affected learners are candidates preparing for their UCE examinations.
The organisation said it wrote to the school on September 29, warning against sending the candidates home and highlighting the possible impact on their examination preparation.
However, the group says the school proceeded to send the affected students away on October 5 over the unpaid fees.
“The school therefore proceeded with the very action against which it had expressly been cautioned, thereby aggravating the prejudice suffered by the affected students and placing their continued preparation for the UNEB examinations at risk,” the complaint reads.
The organisation argues that the decision denies the candidates access to classes and other educational facilities at a critical stage of their education.
“Sending away candidates at this critical time disproportionately affects girls from poor families and denies them equal opportunity to sit examinations, yet fees can be recovered through other lawful means without exclusion,” it said.
The Women’s Probono Initiative has asked the EOC to investigate the matter and restrain the school from what it describes as discriminatory treatment of candidate students based on their families’ economic circumstances.
It cited Articles 21, 30 and 34 of the Constitution, relating to equality and freedom from discrimination, the right to education and the rights and welfare of children.
The organisation also argued that, because Wanyange Girls is a government-aided school receiving capitation grants, it should not treat students in the same manner as a purely private institution.
“This is a public school receiving government capitation grants; it cannot act like a purely private business,” the complaint states.
The group further said the Ministry of Education has urged schools to make arrangements for recovering outstanding fees without preventing candidates from preparing for or sitting their final examinations.
It wants the EOC to order the immediate readmission of the affected Senior Four candidates and allow them to sit the UCE examinations regardless of their outstanding fees.
It also wants the school to allow parents to sign payment commitments or agree on payment plans after the examinations.
The organisation warned that missing the examinations could force the affected girls to lose an entire academic year and expose them to other risks.
“The girls will lose a whole year and be exposed to early marriage and child marriage if they miss UCE in 2026,” it said.
The Women’s Probono Initiative has urged the EOC to act urgently to protect the candidates’ right to education and ensure they are able to sit their final examinations.
