S.4 girl drags father to police over school fees

Jinja – 17-year-old Jovia Nakisige, a S. 4 candidate at Magogo Secondary School in Jinja district has run to police asking them to arrest her father, Godfrey Basalirwa to compel him pay her school fees such that she doesn’t miss the final exams.

Nakisige has in her statement at Buwenge Police station alleged that her father left the responsibility of footing her school fees only to her mother which mother the mother has failed to raise.

“When I reached S.4, he (Basalirwa) told me that he has stopped paying for me fees and directed me to now start asking for everything from my mother,” she said.

Asked how much is the school fees balance, Nakisige said she is supposed to pay shillings 300,000 or else she will miss the UNEB exams.

“This term we (S.4 candidates at her school) are all in boarding so we are paying 300,000. But I am the only student who has not deposited anything and I was yesterday warned by the head teacher that I am most likely not to sit my papers,” she added.

She told the police that her father earns money and had a lot of valuables including animals but he only sees no value in educating a girl child.

Efforts to get a comment from Basalirwa were futile because his contact was off by the time of filing this story but police said he must be arrested and advised to cater for the daughter’s school fees.

Lydia Namugeere, the officer in charge of child and family protection at Buwenge Police station confirmed entering the girl’s case and said the officers would have Basalirwa in their hands any time.

She however condemned the act of fathers who abandon their children especially girls