Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports has embraced School Pay, a digital platform designed to make school fee payments safer, more convenient, and accountable. Officials say the initiative marks a shift from outdated cash-based methods to technology-driven solutions that can better serve parents, schools, and learners.
Commissioner for Government Secondary Education Juliet Muzoora explained that the system is already transforming how parents settle school fees. “Parents can now clear school fees directly from home, and both the school and the payer instantly get confirmation,” she said during a recent education financing forum in Kampala.
One of the biggest gains is student safety. For years, children carried large sums of money to school, exposing them to theft or loss. Muzoora said the new system eases that burden. “We want learners to focus on their studies without the anxiety of carrying fees money. This solution takes that risk away,” she noted.
The platform also introduces wristband-based pocket money management, allowing students to make small payments digitally and track how they spend. Some have even begun saving small balances for school supplies, a step Muzoora said encourages financial discipline from a young age.
The Ministry believes the same technology can be applied to track government resources sent to schools. Muzoora urged fintech innovators to help digitize monitoring of grants such as the capitation grant. “If digital tools can make fees transparent, then we should also use them to follow how schools use public funds. That would improve accountability and reduce unnecessary paperwork,” she suggested.
Officials also encouraged flexible payment arrangements using School Pay. Instead of demanding lump sums, schools can now agree on instalment payments to keep children learning while parent’s complete fees. “No child should miss lessons because their parents can’t pay at once. With digital payments, schools and families can agree on partial settlements,” Muzoora said.
Education leaders see digital systems like School Pay as a vital part of improving governance in the sector. By cutting out cash handling, ensuring real-time confirmation, and promoting transparency, the platform is viewed as a strong tool for making financing in schools more accountable and inclusive.