Catholic School Fee Profiteers Exposed

Who’s Cashing In? Uncovering Hidden Profiteers Behind Catholic School Fee Hikes in Africa

Magnifying glass over Catholic school invoice showing development fees

Introduction

Across Uganda, Zimbabwe, and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Catholic school fees have soared to as much as US $600–$800 per term, once beyond reach for average families. These institutions, once champions of affordable, mission-driven education, are increasingly burdened by hidden profiteers. Our investigation reveals who is behind these increases—and why families are crying foul.

💸 1. School Administration Commissions

On paper, fees are justified as covering “development levies” or maintenance. But these line items often vanish without trace. At St. Mary’s College Kisubi in Uganda, parents once paid detailed development fees of ₦500,000—and reported seeing no visible infrastructure improvements that yea. Instead, the funds appeared to bolster administrative accounts, raising suspicions of slush funds within school leadership. Despite a government ban on building‐fee levies in 2024, schools regularly add these charges under differing labels.

🔗 2. Contractors and Approved Vendors

In many diocesan-run schools, procurement is anything but transparent. At Uganda Martyrs’ Secondary, receipts show “approved” vendors—often tied to board members—mark up canteen meals by 50% immediately after contracts are assigned . Uniform and textbook suppliers receive bulk orders at inflated prices, cutting into parents’ pockets with each school term.

🕴️ 3. Board Members & Church Officials

An unchecked sphere of influence allows board members and church officials to introduce new charges each year: unauthorized “ICT lab access”, updated parking fees, and management surcharges under the guise of PTA support—none open for public scrutiny. Diocesan meetings approving these fees are held behind closed doors, with no published minutes, leaving parents blind to how much is being charged and why.

⚖️ 4. Red Flags and Lack of Oversight

Though Catholic schools hold non-profit status, governmental oversight is often weak. Uganda’s lifting of fee levies in 2024 was never followed by regulation or enforcement . Additionally, audits are rare and seldom publicly disclosed. With no transparency or accountability mechanisms, fee hikes benefit a small group while the mission of education suffers.

Conclusion

Catholic schools across sub-Saharan Africa are undergoing a troubling transformation—from community pillars to hidden profit engines. Families are not just paying tuition—they are funding enriched administrative accounts, vendor markups, and opaque charges. At stake is not just affordability, but trust in institutions once dedicated to serving the vulnerable. Stay tuned for our next exposé, where we trace how these fees are reshaping the lives of those they were meant to educate