Kampala Community International Primary School vs Kampala International School Uganda
Kampala Community International Primary School and Kampala International School Uganda are both in Kampala, about 2 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes, and Kampala International School Uganda also offers Cambridge IGCSE and IB. Published annual fees are UGX 16,079,783 - 17,579,970 at Kampala Community International Primary School and UGX 16,647,325 - 105,433,060 at Kampala International School Uganda, which puts Kampala International School Uganda roughly 263% higher. Kampala Community International Primary School takes pupils from 5 to 10, and Kampala International School Uganda from 1 to 18. Kampala International School Uganda is the larger school, with around 500 pupils to Kampala Community International Primary School's 101. Typical class sizes are 20 at Kampala Community International Primary School and 15 at Kampala International School Uganda.
KCIS has 6 academic years: Year 1 to Year 6. Year 1 starts at age 5, Year 2 at age 6; Year 3 at age 7, Year 4 at age 8, Year 5 at age 9, Year 6 at age 10. The school divides these into Key Stage One (Year 1–2) and Key Stage Two (Year 3–6).
Stages
Early Years; Primary School (Key Stage 1; Key Stage 2); IB Diploma
School type
School type
International primary school
School type
International day school offering the IB Diploma Programme.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
Over 450 students representing 46+ nationalities.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school operates in Uganda.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
A day for Year 1–2 runs from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, with clubs from 2:30–3:15 pm. A day for Year 3–6 runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, with clubs from 3:15–4:00 pm.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and one-off fees - Registration Fee (payable on application): USD 200. - Enrolment Fee (payable on enrolment): USD 330.
Tuition fees (per term and annual figures) - Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2): USD 1,600 per term. Annual figure (inclusive of swimming) shown as USD 4,341. - Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6): USD 1,750 per term. Annual figure (inclusive of swimming) shown as USD 4,746.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are due exactly one week prior to the last day of the previous term. Specific due dates are set in the published term & fee dates. Term dates and corresponding fee due dates for the 2025/26 academic year are published and include: Term 1 (18 Aug 2025–21 Nov 2025; fees due: New students 15 Jul 2025, Returning students 1 Aug 2025), Term 2 (25 Nov 2025–13 Mar 2026; fees due 14 Nov 2025), Term 3 (16 Mar 2026–19 Jun 2026; fees due 6 Mar 2026). Fees for new students must be cleared in full before the student may begin. Students who enter after the start of term are charged a full term if enrolled before half term and half a term if enrolled after half term. - Spaces for new students are only confirmed once registration and enrolment fees are paid. Part payments are allocated first to tuition fees before lunch and clubs. Bank transfers should be received by the due date to avoid late charges.
Payment methods and banking - School fees are payable in US dollars. Fees should be paid into the school bank account. Bank transfer is the primary method; bank account details are provided for Diamond Trust (DTB) and Stanbic Bank, including a SWIFT code for international transfers. Copies of bank slips for online or bank payments should be emailed to the accounts team or sent via WhatsApp for verification; receipts are issued on request. Cash is accepted at the school office for items such as morning/after care, uniform, clubs, library costs, school trips, and event tickets. Mobile money may be accepted for uniform, library costs, school trips, late pick-up fees, event tickets and some fundraising activities. Cheques from Ugandan bank accounts are accepted. A bounced check fee is applicable.
Late payment and collection terms - If payment is not made within one week of the due date, a USD 25 late charge applies (unless other arrangements have been made). For every additional day late, a fee of USD 5 will be charged. If fees remain unpaid 21 days after late payment notice, attendance may be suspended until fees (including late charges) are paid. If fees are unpaid 30 days after the due date, the school may no longer hold a space for the child. Prolonged default may result in debt collection and associated costs being charged to the parent; outstanding student work and reports may be withheld.
Refunds and withdrawal notice - Fees once paid are not refundable. No refund or discount is given if the school is forced to move learning online. One term's notice is required when withdrawing a child; if less than one term's notice is given, fees are due for the following term. If a child is withdrawn after fees have been paid, there will be no refund. To retain a place during an extended period away, term fees are still expected to be paid on time.
Boarding - Boarding is not applicable; no boarding fees are listed for KCIS Primary.
Other compulsory and optional costs - School Uniform Pack (compulsory, one-off): USD 85 (includes two uniform tops, PE house shirt, hoodie, cap and book bag; excludes grey trousers/skirt). - Lunch (optional): USD 250 per term (paid termly). Lunch is prepared on site and follows an international menu. Field trips are compulsory for curriculum units; field trip costs are paid per trip and charged in UGX. Clubs and individual activities are optional and charged termly. After-school clubs: USD 60 or USD 80 per term (depending on the club). Individual music lessons: USD 80 per term. Morning Care (optional): USD 50 per child per term (service available from 7:00am; supervision begins 7:40am). After School Care (optional): USD 50 per child per term, or UGX 10,000 per After Care session; a charge of UGX 10,000 per ten minutes applies for late pick-up. Sibling may stay without extra charge until their sibling finishes. A one-off fee of USD 50 per child per term applies to use morning care.
Discounts and concessions - Sibling Discount: 5% applied to the younger sibling's tuition (or the lower of the two tuition amounts); not valid with other discounts and does not apply to annual fee payments that already have a discount. Annual Discount: 10% discount applies to fees when paying for a full academic year in advance if paid prior to 1 June; the annual discount applies only to fees.
Additional operational notes on charges - Clubs and private individual music lessons must be paid before the child commences the programme; children with outstanding balances may be prevented from joining until fees are cleared. Any bank transfer charges should be paid by the parent/guardian; uncovered bank charges may be debited from the next term's fees. Students who enter after the start of the term may be charged a full term if before half term or a half term if after half term. Field trips, some aftercare sessions and small items may be charged in UGX.
Fee details
Application / Enrolment fees - Enrolment fee for Early Years (KG & Reception): USD 580. A top-up of USD 2,630 is applied when a pupil moves into Year 1, yielding the full enrolment charge for Early Years → Year 1 entry. - Enrolment fee for Year 1 through IB2 (one-time): USD 3,200 (presented as the standard enrolment/entrance charge for Year 1–IB2). - A separate school statement of financial terms also records an enrolment amount of USD 2,350 to be paid on the day of enrolment and notes this fee as non-refundable; this figure appears alongside the other published enrolment amounts.
Tuition fees — Term fees (per term) - Kindergarten 1–3: Tuition USD 1,540; Lunch USD 430; Total per term USD 1,970. - Reception: Tuition USD 3,870; Lunch USD 440; Total per term USD 4,310. - Year 1 & 2: Tuition USD 7,030; Lunch USD 550; Total per term USD 7,580. - Year 3–6: Tuition USD 7,680; Lunch USD 550; Total per term USD 8,230. - Year 7–9: Tuition USD 8,830; Lunch USD 600; Total per term USD 9,430. - Year 10: Tuition USD 8,830; lunch is optional at USD 600 — total per term USD 8,830 (without lunch) or USD 9,430 (with lunch). - Year 11: Tuition USD 13,225 per term; lunch optional at USD 600 — total per term USD 13,225 (without lunch) or USD 13,825 (with lunch). Year 11 is payable in two half-yearly payments (school notes the payment frequency for Year 11). - IB1 (Year 12): Tuition USD 14,630 per term; lunch optional at USD 600 — total per term USD 14,630 (without lunch) or USD 15,230 (with lunch). IB1 is shown as payable in two half‑yearly payments. - IB2 (Year 13): Tuition USD 14,630 per term; lunch optional at USD 600 — total per term USD 14,630 (without lunch) or USD 15,230 (with lunch). IB2 is shown as payable in two half‑yearly payments.
Tuition fees — Annual fees (per year) - Kindergarten 1–3: Tuition USD 4,600; Lunch USD 1,240; Total per year USD 5,840. - Reception: Tuition USD 11,560; Lunch USD 1,300; Total per year USD 12,860. - Year 1 & 2: Tuition USD 21,060; Lunch USD 1,600; Total per year USD 22,660. - Year 3–6: Tuition USD 23,010; Lunch USD 1,600; Total per year USD 24,610. - Year 7–9: Tuition USD 26,450; Lunch USD 1,760; Total per year USD 28,210. - Year 10: Tuition USD 26,450 per year; lunch optional USD 1,760 — total per year USD 26,450 (without lunch) or USD 28,210 (with lunch). - Year 11: Tuition USD 26,450 per year; lunch optional USD 1,760 — total per year USD 26,450 (without lunch) or USD 28,210 (with lunch). Year 11 payment frequency is listed as two half‑yearly payments in the published schedule. - IB1 (Year 12): Tuition USD 29,250 per year; lunch optional USD 1,760 — total per year USD 29,250 (without lunch) or USD 31,010 (with lunch). IB1 is shown as payable in two half‑yearly payments. - IB2 (Year 13): Tuition USD 29,250 per year; lunch optional USD 1,760 — total per year USD 29,250 (without lunch) or USD 31,010 (with lunch). IB2 is shown as payable in two half‑yearly payments.
Transport (bus) fees - Bus fee per term: One‑way USD 495; Two‑way USD 680.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Some year groups (Year 11 and the two IB years) are shown as payable in two half‑yearly payments; other year groups are presented with term and annual totals so fees are billed on a term or annual basis as indicated. - All fees must be paid by the published due date; parents must pay fees for the next term before the last day of the current term. Outstanding accounts may result in exclusion from class or withholding of official documents. - External examination fees (IGCSE and IB) are billed separately and must be paid prior to exam registration.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not available at this school; there are no published boarding fees.
Other costs and charges - Lunch: lunch fees are shown separately for each year group and may be optional for some grades (Year 10, Year 11, IB1, IB2 show optional lunch at the published rate). These lunch charges are included in the term and annual totals where noted. - Enrolment / admission-related top‑ups and staged enrolment charges (Early Years top‑up to Year 1, and the larger single enrolment charge for Year 1–IB2) are published as set amounts under the enrolment section. - External examination fees (IGCSE and IB) and other exam‑related charges are billed separately. - Co‑curricular clubs and activity sessions may charge separately; the school's published CCA guidance specifies that fees for CCA blocks are non‑refundable if a pupil cannot attend all sessions. - International trips and optional excursions are described as part of the school programme; such trips are typically charged separately from tuition and will appear as additional costs when offered. - Uniform costs are not listed in the published fee schedule and are not given as fixed amounts in the publicly available fee documents. Parents should expect separate uniform purchases or charges arranged through the school or approved suppliers.
Refunds and cancellation policy - Fees once paid are non‑refundable. The published financial agreement states that if a child is absent for more than three weeks or withdraws from the school, no refund will be issued. If a child is asked to leave for disciplinary reasons, no fees will be refunded.
Fee payment arrangements and contact for payment instructions - The school's financial terms state that payment is to be made to the Bursar's office; parents are required to follow the school's invoicing and bursar procedures and to settle all outstanding fees by the due dates. Specific bank account details or card/payment processor details are not published on the fee schedule pages; contact the Admissions or Office email addresses for the school's accepted payment methods and bank details. - Admissions and finance contact details published with the fee materials: admissions@kisu.com and office@kisu.com; Admissions phone +256 752 711882.
Notes on inconsistencies in published enrolment figures - The school's published materials include more than one enrolment figure: the Fees Structure shows Early Years as USD 580 (with top‑up) and USD 3,200 for Year 1–IB2, while the Agreement of Financial Terms and Conditions page records an enrolment fee amount of USD 2,350 payable on the day of enrolment. These differing published figures should be clarified with school admissions or the Bursar's office when arranging enrolment and payment.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
KCIS follows the UK's English National Curriculum (ENC), adapted to reflect the international nature of its school community and its location in Uganda. The school offers 13 subjects across the curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. KCIS is a single-stream school with a maximum of 20 students per class and a teacher-student ratio of up to 1:10. An active learning approach is used, with a variety of methods and activities to develop transferable skills and life skills. KCIS has six academic years (Year 1 to Year 6) with class allocation by date of birth on 1 September each year. The aim is to inspire every child to love learning and to equip them with the skills, attitudes and values to realise their diverse and distinctive potentials.
Curriculum details
The school follows the National Curriculum for England with modifications for the Ugandan setting.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Teacher-student ratio is up to 1:10.
Student teacher ratio
There are 32 certified teachers and over 450 students, giving an approximate student–teacher ratio of about 14:1.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
The IB Diploma Programme is offered at KISU. DP results have steadily improved, and the school underwent an IBO review in 2018 that commended its Diploma Programme. To begin the full Diploma Programme, students must achieve a grade B or higher in their IGCSE for Higher Level subjects and a grade C or higher for Standard Level; for Physics or Mathematics at Higher Level, an A is required. There are three DP pathways: the full Diploma Programme, a trial Diploma, and IB Courses certificates.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Book a school visit. KCIS invites all parents to book an appointment to visit the school; visits are generally conducted Monday–Friday 8.30am–2pm, but can be arranged at other times by appointment. 2. Meet with the Director and assessment. You and your child will be invited to meet with the Director of Education, and your child's two most recent report cards will be reviewed; your child may be asked to complete an assessment. KCIS uses the British Curriculum (The English National Curriculum). 3. Secure a place. When the school offers a place for your child, pay the enrollment fee to secure the place; parents then submit the final documents online and pay the appropriate school fees prior to commencement. 4. Enrolment documents submission. Return the following items to the KCIS office: the online Enrolment Form, Home Form, Choices Form, Communication Form, and Swimming Consent; provide one passport photo; copies of Passport or Birth Certificate and Vaccination record; two most recent school reports (if applicable); map or directions to home for emergencies; and a bank slip for Registration and School Fees. The school will call to confirm a starting date after submission. 5. Starting date and class placement. The starting date is confirmed by KCIS after documents are submitted; KCIS has six academic years and allocates Year 1 to children aged 5 at the start of the school year, Year 2 to age 6, Year 3 to age 7, Year 4 to age 8, Year 5 to age 9, and Year 6 to age 10, with class placement by date of birth on 1 September.
Admissions
1. Step 1: Parents ask for an application pack, complete it, and return all required documents. Incomplete applications are discarded after 30 days. Applications are reviewed to assess the student's ability to succeed in an English-language environment, taking into account prior academic records and developmental history. The application must include all documents outlined in the procedure to be processed. 2. Step 2: Admissions invites the family for a campus tour, an interview, and interactions or assessments with the student. For grades 10–12, discussion may include IGCSE or IB options. Interviews may be conducted face-to-face or online, and English and Math assessments may be used as part of placement. Parents are interviewed to ensure understanding and alignment with the school's mission and policies. 3. Step 3: Admissions informs the family of the decision. The final admission decision rests with the Director. Accepted students are placed in the appropriate grade level if space allows; accepted conditionally are monitored and may be promoted or required to repeat a year. A waiting list is used when the grade level is full, with priority to the earliest completed application; if a seat is not found within the year, parents may apply for the following academic year; the option to decline is issued if the applicant does not meet requirements.
Scholarships
Scholarships
KCIS offers bursaries with up to 50% discount off school fees for students to study at KCIS. Bursaries are available for all years of study (ages 5 to 12) and are awarded twice a year. The next bursary application deadline is 30 November 2025. Applications are submitted to the Bursary Committee, and completed application forms along with the child's two most recent school reports should be returned in person to KCIS, or by mail to the KCIS office. For more information please email bursaries@kciskampala.com or call 077 6666 885. An application form can be downloaded.
Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Waiting list is used when a grade level is full but admission requirements are met. Priority on the waiting list goes to the earliest completed application. If a seat is not found within the current academic year, parents may apply for the following academic year by contacting the admissions office by the beginning of May. Applications do not automatically roll over to the next academic year.