Galaxy International School Uganda vs Rainbow International School Uganda

	G Galaxy International School Uganda Kampala, Uganda	R Rainbow International School Uganda Kampala, Uganda
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year UGX 6,050 - 15,000	Fees / year UGX 2,750 - 17,195
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 800
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location GISU is located in Lubowa, along the Kampala–Entebbe Road, about 9 km from Kampala. Turn off before Roofings Ltd. and continue along the housing estate, with the school about 500 m from Quality Supermarket on the main road. The address is Plot 1077, Lubowa Estate, Entebbe Road, P.O. Box 11119 Kampala Uganda.	Location Kintu Road, Tyaba Zone, Kampala, Uganda. Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am - 12:00 Noon. Phone: +256-393-266-696; +256-758-032-501.
Stages	Stages Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and Cambridge AS & A Level programmes.	Stages Early Years, Primary and Secondary.
School type	School type International, co-educational school offering Cambridge International Examinations (Checkpoint, IGCSE, AS & A Level) with boarding facilities.	School type Co-educational day and boarding international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support GISU takes in children with mild additional needs and supports them accordingly; learners with additional educational needs receive education through addressing their differences and including them in activities, with accommodations such as extra time for assignments or exams, use of technology, or adaptive equipment as appropriate.	Additional learning support Learning Support is provided in Primary and Early Years with in-class and small-group interventions; in-house occupational therapy and speech and language sessions; Secondary offers in-class and small-group support, with differentiation and life-skills activities; a dedicated School House for interventions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Uganda
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No explicit religious affiliation; the school welcomes students of different faiths.	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Regular school day runs from 08:00 to 15:30. Meals are served centrally in the dining hall.	School day structure Weekdays 8:00am–5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am–12:00 Noon.
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus transport is available; transport costs depend on distance.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Admission fee - A one-time admission (registration) fee is payable for new students. The admission fee is USD 1,000 (non-refundable). Tuition fees (per term and annual totals, by year group) - Kindergarten (KG2 & KG3) - Term 1: USD 2,650 - Term 2: USD 1,750 - Term 3: USD 1,650 - Annual total: USD 6,050. - Reception - Term 1: USD 2,850 - Term 2: USD 1,850 - Term 3: USD 1,750 - Annual total: USD 6,450. - Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2) - Term 1: USD 3,450 - Term 2: USD 2,400 - Term 3: USD 2,250 - Annual total: USD 8,100. - Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) - Term 1: USD 4,400 - Term 2: USD 3,050 - Term 3: USD 2,750 - Annual total: USD 10,200. - Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) - Term 1: USD 5,000 - Term 2: USD 3,450 - Term 3: USD 3,150 - Annual total: USD 11,600. - IGCSE (Years 10 & 11) - Term 1: USD 5,450 - Term 2: USD 3,850 - Term 3: USD 3,500 - Annual total: USD 12,800. - AS / A Level (Years 12 & 13) - Term 1: USD 6,450 - Term 2: USD 4,450 - Term 3: USD 4,100 - Annual total: USD 15,000. Book, exam and other recurring academic charges - Book fees (annual, paid at registration): - KG2 – Year 2: USD 250 - Years 3 – 9: USD 350 - Years 10 & 11: USD 450 - Years 12 & 13: USD 350. - Cambridge examination fees are charged in the relevant exam year and are payable in addition to tuition and book fees. Lunch and other facility charges are included within tuition. Transport is provided by a third-party operator with separate charges that vary by route and distance. School uniform costs vary by grade. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Boarding is offered from Year 7 to Year 13. Boarding fees per boarding student are: - Term 1: USD 2,450 - Term 2: USD 1,750 - Term 3: USD 1,600 - Total (boarding for the full year): USD 5,800. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is billed by term (three terms). Book fees are charged annually and are payable at registration. Lunch and facility charges are included in the tuition amounts. Transport and other optional services are billed separately. An upfront payment discount of 5% is offered where parents pay the full year in advance. A sibling discount of 5% applies for families with two or more children enrolled. The admission fee is payable once on registration and is non-refundable. Other costs and optional charges - Uniform: prices vary depending on grade; uniform purchase is an additional cost. - Transport: charged separately by a third-party transport provider; cost depends on route and distance. - Extracurricular activities fees (termly): - Early Years: Term 1 USD 100; Terms 2 & 3 USD 100 each. - Years 1–6: Term 1 USD 150; Terms 2 & 3 USD 150 each. - Years 7–13: Term 1 USD 150; Terms 2 & 3 USD 150 each. Refund information - The admission (registration) fee is non-refundable. Other refund or cancellation rules are governed by the school's financial agreement; full details should be confirmed with the admissions office. Fee payment options and practical note - The publicly available fee schedule and registration materials specify amounts, term billing and discounts but do not list specific payment channels (for example, specific bank account details, credit-card acceptance, mobile-money or online payment provider names) in the published fee schedule documents reviewed. Confirmed channels commonly used by schools in the region include bank transfer and school-approved electronic payment platforms, but the school's admissions or finance office should be contacted to confirm accepted methods and any transaction details or payment references to use. Contact options: +256 781 468 000 or admissions@gisu.ac.ug. Summary of the most important items for parents - Plan for a one-time, non-refundable admission fee of USD 1,000 at registration. - Budget tuition by year group on a per-term basis (three terms); annual totals are shown above. - Include book fees, examination fees and optional transport or boarding charges where applicable. Boarding fees for Years 7–13 are billed per term and total USD 5,800 for the year.	Fee details Application and Admissions Fees - Admission testing fee: USD 50 (one‑off payment, payable before the test). - Admission fee: USD 700 (one‑off payment). - Registration fee (Early Years): USD 200 (one‑off). Tuition fees — Early Years (Nursery & Kindergarten) - Nursery — Full day: Annual USD 3,500; Term fee USD 1,167; Monthly USD 350. Day hours 08:00–16:00; includes morning snack, lunch and evening snack. - Nursery — Half day: Annual USD 2,750; Term fee USD 916.70; Monthly USD 275. Day options 08:00–13:00 or 12:00–16:00; includes morning snack and lunch. - Kindergarten (KG) — Full day: Annual USD 4,500; Term fee USD 1,500; Monthly USD 450. Day hours 08:00–16:00; includes morning snack, lunch and evening snack. - Kindergarten (KG) — Half day: Annual USD 3,750; Term fee USD 1,250; Monthly USD 375. Day options 08:00–13:00 or 12:00–16:00; includes morning snack and lunch. - Early Years health package: USD 40 annually. Tuition fees — Reception to Year 13 (per year group and term amounts) - Reception: Annual USD 5,945; Term 1 USD 2,378; Term 2 USD 1,784; Term 3 USD 1,784. - Year 1 & Year 2: Annual USD 7,555; Term 1 USD 3,022; Term 2 USD 2,267; Term 3 USD 2,267. - Years 3–6: Annual USD 10,295; Term 1 USD 4,118; Term 2 USD 3,089; Term 3 USD 3,089. - Years 7–9: Annual USD 12,380; Term 1 USD 4,952; Term 2 USD 3,714; Term 3 USD 3,714. - Year 10: Annual USD 14,465; Term 1 USD 5,786; Term 2 USD 4,340; Term 3 USD 4,340. - Year 11: Annual USD 14,465; Term amounts listed as USD 7,233 and USD 7,233 (as shown in the fee schedule). - Years 12–13: Annual USD 17,195; Term amounts listed as USD 8,598 and USD 8,598 (as shown in the fee schedule). Boarding and boarding‑related fees - Boarding fee (optional): USD 3,500 per term. - Boarding health package: USD 200 (separate from the annual health package). Other compulsory and optional charges - Capital levy: USD 500 (one‑off payment). - Caution deposit: USD 500 (refundable). - Annual health package (general school): USD 40. - School lunch (annual): Primary (Year 1–6) USD 700; Secondary (Year 7–13) USD 800. - School bus (termly): Both‑ways USD 655 (termly) and One‑way USD 655 (termly) as listed in the fee schedule. - BTEC registration/administration fee: GBP 1,000 (one‑off payment). - Cambridge assessment / exam charges: Exam fees are charged per subject when the student is registered for the exam. Additional activities (field trips, extra curricular providers such as Lamda or special events) may attract extra charges. - Uniform: An onsite uniform shop is available; uniform is purchased separately through the school's uniform shop. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing is termly using the term amounts shown above for each year group. - Admissions/one‑off charges (admission fee, capital levy, caution deposit, BTEC fee, admission test fee, etc.) are payable as specified at admission. - Pro‑rata / mid‑entry charging rules: When a student joins after Term 1, 70% of the annual tuition fee is charged for Nursery–Year 10; Term 2 and Term 3 are shown as 35% and 35% of annual fees respectively. For Year 11–13 joining after Term 1, 70% of the annual tuition fee is charged at admission. Refunds and refundable charges - The caution deposit (USD 500) is explicitly stated as refundable. Other fees are charged as specified; refundable items beyond the caution deposit are not listed in the fee schedules provided. Accepted payment methods and practical payment notes - Cash: Cash is accepted in United States Dollars or the equivalent in Uganda Shillings; the school's accounts office applies the exchange rate on the date of payment. - Cheque / bank draft: Cheques or drafts must be payable to “Rainbow International School 2003 Limited” and should be delivered to the school accounts office; parents are asked to write the name(s) of their child(ren) on the back of the cheque. - Electronic transfer (EFT/RTG/telegraphic transfer): Electronic transfers are accepted; parents should obtain bank/transfer details from the school accounts office when arranging a transfer. Cash deposits to the school's bank accounts are also used for payments. Practical notes on optional/additional costs - Field trips, specialist activities (for example extra external exam or vocational programme charges, sporting or external providers), extra‑curricular provider fees, and special events may incur additional charges that are billed separately. Exam entry fees for Cambridge and similar awarding bodies are charged per subject.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details GISU delivers the Cambridge International Curriculum from Early Years to Upper Secondary. Early Years uses the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. In Primary and Secondary, GISU follows Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary, Cambridge International IGCSE, and Cambridge AS & A Levels.	Curriculum details Rainbow International School Uganda follows the English National Curriculum at all stages. The Rainbow curriculum is broad-based and creative, with emphasis on core subjects such as mathematics, science, English and ICT, and also includes humanities, arts and physical education. Investigation, reasoning, problem solving and independent learning are central to the curriculum. The IPC is used in Primary, embedding its units and the eight Personal Learning Goals to develop international mindedness and learner dispositions. In Secondary, the English National Curriculum leads to Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels, with Post-16 options including BTEC qualifications. RISU is a COBIS member and is registered with the UK Department for Education, reflecting international accreditation and standards.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Primary class sizes are capped at 24 with a 1:12 teacher–student ratio; Early Years has an adult–child ratio of 1:6. Secondary class sizes are smaller in many IGCSE and A Level classes.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results The Prospectus notes a proven track record of excellent examination results.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Students are prepared for university study and are sent to universities and colleges in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and South Africa.	Higher education progression Rainbow students are prepared for entry into top universities globally. The school provides a dedicated careers advisor and sixth form with weekly careers lessons, work experience opportunities and university visits, with graduates progressing to universities such as the University of British Columbia, University of Bristol, University of Manchester, University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, York University, McMaster University, Michigan State University, Penn State and Nottingham Trent University.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions GISU admits students from all over the world and follows the Cambridge International Curriculum in both Primary and Secondary. Placement is dependent on the child's age, with other factors considered on a case-by-case basis. The Admission Package includes the following documents and forms: Application Form; Admission Form; Student Health Record Form; Report Cards from the past two years; Placement and Enrolment Policy and Procedure; Financial Agreement; Rules and Regulations; two passport-size photographs; School Calendar; Copy of Birth Certificate; Copy of Passport (for foreign students); and Payment of Admission Fee. Vacancies are available in Early Years, Years 1–6, Years 7–13. Plot 1077, Lubowa Estate, Entebbe Road (500 m after Quality Shopping Village).	Admissions The school has an Enquiry Form for Admission to begin the application process. The form asks for the student's date of birth and how the family heard about RISU (options include Rainbow Website, Facebook, Twitter). After submission, the admissions officer will get back to you as soon as possible.
Scholarships	Scholarships GISU Merit & Needs Based Scholarship Programme provides partial or full scholarships to academically and socially gifted students commencing IGCSE or AS/A Level. Scholarships are awarded for an academic year and aim to identify students who would thrive in an international setting and would not be able to attend GISU without financial support. Scholarships may cover up to 100% of school fees for self-funding or partial self-payers; boarding fees are not waived; admission and caution fees may be waived for full scholarship recipients applying from outside GISU; tuition is covered for the grade studied, while uniforms and transport/extra-curricular fees are the student's responsibility. Selection is open to all nationalities and targets students entering Grades 10–13 who are candidates for full IGCSE or AS/A Level programmes; Sports Scholarships are one example of scholarship categories with criteria including demonstrated sporting talent, leadership, and English proficiency. The applicant review process includes a Scholarship Application Pack, site assessments, interviews, and the Financial Assistance form; University placements are assisted from Grade 10, but no university scholarship is guaranteed. GISU reserves the right to withdraw scholarships or to adjust criteria and the number of scholarships awarded.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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