EDUCATION – The National Private Educational Institutions Association in Uganda (NPEIA-UG) has entered into a strategic partnership with Furaha Finserve Uganda Limited (www.furahafinancial.com) aimed at improving access to purpose-driven school fees financing.
The initiative seeks to address persistent challenges faced by private schools arising from delayed school fees payments, which continue to disrupt school operations and learning continuity across the country.
Private schools play a critical role in Uganda’s education system; however, many begin each academic term with a significant portion of expected fees unpaid. Currently, only about 30 percent of learners have fully paid school fees on the first day of term. This challenge is largely driven by a misalignment between household cash-flow cycles and school calendars, placing immediate strain on school operations, including teacher remuneration, budgeting, procurement of learning materials, and lesson planning.
Under the partnership, NPEIA-UG’s more than 18,000 member schools will be onboarded onto Furaha’s school fees financing platform. The platform enables eligible parents to apply for school fees loans directly linked to their child’s school. Approved funds are disbursed directly to schools, ensuring timely payment of fees, while parents repay the loans in structured instalments aligned with their income cycles.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, Kirabira Hasadu, Chairperson of the National Private Educational Institutions Association–Uganda, said the initiative is timely, noting that private schools largely depend on school fees as their primary source of funding.
“As a new school term approaches, this partnership will enable parents to access unsecured loans to meet their children’s education costs,” Hasadu said. “When private schools are adequately supported, the overall cost of education is bound to reduce.”
The cost of education in Uganda remains high, with tuition, boarding, and related fees for quality private schools often ranging between UGX 1–3 million per term, despite the existence of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE). These costs have created significant financial barriers for many families, contributing to increased dropout rates.
According to NPEIA-UG, Uganda has over 18,000 registered private schools, enrolling approximately eight million learners and employing more than 400,000 teachers nationwide.
“Delayed fee payments remain one of the biggest operational challenges facing private schools,” Hasadu added. “This partnership offers a practical solution that supports both parents and schools, strengthens financial discipline, and ensures that learning is not disrupted.”
Dennis Musinguzi, Chief Executive Officer of Furaha Finserve Uganda Limited, said the school fees loans were designed with the realities of Ugandan households in mind.
“We designed Furaha’s school fees loans around how Ugandan families earn and spend,” Musinguzi said. “By working closely with schools and associations like NPEIA-UG, we can extend credit responsibly, promote financial literacy, and keep children in school without placing undue strain on families.”
Beyond access to credit, the partnership places strong emphasis on financial literacy, with NPEIA-UG and Furaha leveraging school communication channels to equip parents with practical guidance on household budgeting, responsible borrowing, and long-term financial planning.
The collaboration reflects a growing shift toward purpose-driven financing models that address structural challenges within essential social sectors such as education, while balancing access to credit with long-term financial wellbeing.
About the National Private Educational Institutions Association in Uganda (NPEIA-UG)
The National Private Educational Institutions Association in Uganda (NPEIA-UG) is the pioneer and principal national association representing private education institutions in Uganda. With active leadership and membership across the country, NPEIA-UG represents over 18,056 private educational institutions, employing more than 360,000 teachers and enrolling over eight million learners nationwide. For over 27 years, NPEIA-UG has played a pivotal role in education advocacy, collaboration, networking, capacity building, lobbying, peer support, monitoring, and supervision for private schools in Uganda.
About Furaha Finserve Uganda Limited
Furaha Finserve Uganda Limited is a Ugandan financial services company that combines a robust technology ecosystem with a purposeful mission to improve lives. Driven by innovation, accountability, teamwork, and integrity, Furaha provides purpose-based financing solutions and technology designed to expand access, promote financial inclusion, and support social impact sectors such as education. For more information, visit www.furahafinancial.com
