Ugandan School Holds Daughter, Father Over Unpaid School Fees
Police in Mukono have rescued a parent together with his daughter from the school authorities who had detained them over failure to pay school fees.
Kasirye Joseph, a boda boda rider and a resident of Nabuti, Mukono District together with her 13-year-old daughter Nalunga Promise were rescued from Pherry Junior School, Kitete with fees arrears amounting to Ugsh. 2 million.
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Kasirye revealed that on visitation day, he had handed in his boda boda card as security if he failed to pay school fees for his child. When his daughter finished her Primary leaving examinations, he was called to pick her up but when he reached the office, the school failed to release her and instead gave him a document to sign as commitment.
“I asked for a copy of the document to read through, but they declined, saying my role was to sign and get my daughter, saying it was a mere commitment of payment. I refused because I had not read through,” he said.
When he visited to bring her home, he was locked in the premises where his daughter had been detained for close to five days until with eight other pupils. A well wisher informed the police who arrived and arrested Sylvia Nandutu Okite, the school director.
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When asked why she had holding the victims hostage, Nandutu revealed that that was the only way the school would be able to recover their money.
“I have educated their children and allowed them to sit for their PLE, then what criteria apart from this should I use to get my money?” she asked.
The DPC Mukono police, Kyeyune Edirisa condemned the act stating that the director was not obliged under the law to hold the minor as a ransom to get her debt paid. He immediately ordered for the her release.
“Never joke with people’s children. The school ceased to be responsible for the Primary Seven pupils immediately after sitting for their PLE papers. The only thing you were supposed to do was to hand over the children to their respective parents,” said Kyeyune.
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