Kampala Diplomatic International School vs The Aga Khan High School
Kampala Diplomatic International School and The Aga Khan High School are both in Kampala, about 5 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Kampala Diplomatic International School also offers Cambridge International AS Levels, and The Aga Khan High School also offers IB and Bespoke. Published annual fees are UGX 12,981,678 - 21,888,019 at Kampala Diplomatic International School and UGX 14,001,000 at The Aga Khan High School, which puts Kampala Diplomatic International School roughly 25% higher. Kampala Diplomatic International School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and The Aga Khan High School from 11 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 600 and 550 pupils. Typical class sizes are 12 at Kampala Diplomatic International School and 13 at The Aga Khan High School.
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels
Curriculum
IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
600
Pupils
550
Typical class size
Typical class size
12
Typical class size
13
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1959
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
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Location
Old Kampala, Kampala, Uganda. Muammar Gaddafi Road (formerly Makerere Road). The campus includes a library, science laboratories, ICT facilities, sports fields and an auditorium. English is the medium of instruction for the Ugandan O-level (UCE), IGCSE and IB Diploma Programme.
Stages
Stages
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Stages
Grades 7–12. Co-educational.
School type
School type
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School type
Private, non-profit, non-denominational, co-educational, day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
Approximately 550 students from 32 nations.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Learning Support Centre provides ESL/EAL support and assistance for learners with difficulties; English, Mathematics and French are supported.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
Uganda; part of the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Non-denominational.
School day structure
School day structure
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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 / Registration fees
- Registration (one-time, first year): UGX 939,884.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and approximate per-term)
- The school publishes annual tuition totals by year group. The academic year is organised in three terms; per-term amounts shown below are the annual total divided by three (rounded to the nearest UGX).
- NURSERY 2 (age 2): Annual UGX 12,229,771 → Per term approx. UGX 4,076,590. - KINDERGARTEN 1 (age 3): Annual UGX 12,229,771 → Per term approx. UGX 4,076,590. - KINDERGARTEN 2 (age 4): Annual UGX 12,229,771 → Per term approx. UGX 4,076,590. - KINDERGARTEN 3 (age 5): Annual UGX 15,613,354 → Per term approx. UGX 5,204,451. - GRADE 1 (age 6): Annual UGX 15,613,354 → Per term approx. UGX 5,204,451. - GRADE 2 (age 7): Annual UGX 16,910,394 → Per term UGX 5,636,798. - GRADE 3 (age 8): Annual UGX 16,910,394 → Per term UGX 5,636,798. - GRADE 4 (age 9): Annual UGX 16,910,394 → Per term UGX 5,636,798. - GRADE 5 (age 10): Annual UGX 16,910,394 → Per term UGX 5,636,798. - GRADE 6 (age 11): Annual UGX 19,166,115 → Per term UGX 6,388,705. - GRADE 7 (age 12): Annual UGX 19,166,115 → Per term UGX 6,388,705. - GRADE 8 (age 13): Annual UGX 19,166,115 → Per term UGX 6,388,705. - GRADE 9 (age 14): Annual UGX 19,730,046 → Per term UGX 6,576,682. - GRADE 10 (age 15): Annual UGX 19,730,046 → Per term UGX 6,576,682. - GRADE 11 (age 16): Annual UGX 21,136,112 → Per term approx. UGX 7,045,371. - GRADE 12 (age 17): Annual UGX 21,136,112 → Per term approx. UGX 7,045,371.
Fee components (additional fixed annual charges)
- Resource fee (annual, per student): UGX 187,977. - Capital levy / development levy (annual, per student): UGX 563,930.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are stated as annual amounts and are customarily paid in termly instalments (three terms per academic year); the per-term amounts above are the annual totals divided into three. Invoices and exact due dates are issued by the school for each billing period.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is offered. Boarding fees are not shown with the day-student fee table and must be requested separately from the school; the published fee schedule for day students should not be assumed to include boarding charges.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- Meals (lunch and breakfast): an additional charge is published in earlier fee schedules in the range USD 200 (example shown in the school's fee materials). - After-school clubs: an additional charge appears historically as approximately USD 40. - Uniforms: earlier published guidance lists uniform charges in the range USD 150 (Early Years) and USD 200 (Primary and Secondary). - Examination or subject-specific exam fees (IGCSE/A‑Level) and any subject options are billed in addition to tuition where applicable; parents are billed separately for external examination costs when required.
Refunds and withdrawal
- Refunds and withdrawal terms are governed by the school's enrolment and withdrawal policy and by the invoicing terms for the applicable academic year; parents should follow the school's published withdrawal procedure and the invoice terms for any refund calculations.
Fee payment options
- The school issues invoices and payment instructions. Commonly used methods for international schools in Kampala include bank transfer (local and SWIFT/international transfer), and card or local payment channels where offered; payment instructions and acceptable methods are provided on the school invoice.
Notes on figures and academic year
- The figures above follow the published fee schedule for the 2025/2026 academic year where specific 2026/2027 figures were not published. The registration, resource and capital-levy line items are applied in addition to tuition in the first year for new entrants, producing a higher first-year total for new students.
Fee details
Application / admission fees - One‑off admission fee charged on first enrolment: First child UGX 275,000; second child UGX 225,000; third and subsequent children UGX 175,000. - Annual insurance charge: UGX 12,000 per student.
Tuition fees (per term and per year) — by programme / year group - National O‑Level (UCE / S1–S4): UGX 951,000 per term — UGX 2,853,000 per year (three terms). - National A‑Level (UACE) — Arts: UGX 982,000 per term — UGX 2,946,000 per year. - National A‑Level (UACE) — Sciences: UGX 1,024,000 per term — UGX 3,072,000 per year. - International Key Stage 3 (Year 7–9): UGX 4,495,000 per term — UGX 13,485,000 per year. - International IGCSE (Year 10–11): UGX 4,667,000 per term — UGX 14,001,000 per year. - International IB Diploma Programme (Years 12–13 / DP): UGX 6,592,000 per term — UGX 19,776,000 per year.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are billed termly and are payable by the opening day of each term. Parents are expected to settle term fees on or before the first day of term. - A re‑enrolment (good‑faith) deposit or security deposit practice is used by Aga Khan schools: a deposit is normally required on application or to reserve a place; the deposit is refundable if the student is not admitted and may be credited to tuition on admission. Security/deposit refunds are processed when a student leaves after proper notice and clearance. Withdrawal and refund conditions (including required notice) are specified in the school's obligations/registration documentation and are enforced as part of the enrolment contract. - Late payment consequences commonly applied: monthly surcharge on overdue balances and withholding of student records/results until accounts are cleared. These are standard fee‑collection terms used in the Aga Khan schools' fee schedules.
Boarding fees - Not applicable. The Aga Khan High School, Kampala operates as a day school for Grades 7–12 and does not offer boarding provision.
Other costs and charges (not included in tuition) - The standard exclusions from tuition include: lunch or snacks (where provided), school uniform, external examination registration fees, specific textbooks and some optional trips or programmes; these items are billed separately. - Additional, itemised charges that may appear on invoices: field‑trip charges, subject‑specific materials or ICT requirements, and any optional co‑curricular programme fees.
Refund information and withdrawal terms - Good‑faith / application deposits are refundable if the applicant is not admitted and are normally credited to fees upon admission. Security/caution deposits (where taken) are refundable when a student leaves, subject to proper written notice, clearance of dues and any deductions for damage or outstanding obligations. - Withdrawal without the required notice typically triggers a charge equal to a specified period of fees (for example, several months' fees) as set out in the school's obligations/contract. Outstanding fees must be cleared before school records, certificates or exam entries are released.
Fee payment options and practical payment notes - Accepted payment channels used across Aga Khan schools include bank deposit / bank transfer and mobile‑money bulk transfer options; cash payments are commonly discouraged or not accepted by schools in the network. Proof of payment should be submitted to the school finance office in accordance with the school's payment instructions. - Parents should ensure electronic payments include the student name and ID on the transfer reference so payments are allocated to the correct account. Schools may withhold student clearance or access to services until payments are reconciled.
What the tuition fees cover - Tuition fees for the listed programmes generally cover classroom instruction, exercise books and a large portion of co‑curricular activities; items specifically excluded (see Other costs) are billed separately.
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
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Curriculum details
The Aga Khan High School, Kampala offers both Ugandan national and international curriculums. English is the medium of instruction. Ugandan O-level (UCE) or Cambridge IGCSE are offered in S1–S4 (13–16 years) or Y7–Y11 (11–16 years), followed by Ugandan A-level (S5–S6, 17–18 years) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP, 17–18 years). The school maintains a Learning Support Centre for ESL/EAL and other learning needs, and supports a mentorship programme.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
Approximately 550 students and 43 teachers; the approximate student-teacher ratio is 13:1.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
Param Shashang Desai, a Diploma Programme student at AKHS Kampala, achieved Top in the World in mathematics as part of the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards.
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
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Admissions
1. Entry requirements and language. Entry to The Aga Khan High School, Kampala is selective and merit-based. English is the medium of instruction for Ugandan O-level (S1) and IGCSE (Y7–Y11), as well as for UCE/UACE and the IB Diploma Programme. For Ugandan O-level (S1) entry, a PLE score of 15 points or better is required. For Year 7 entry, candidates sit an entrance test or have SAT-2 or CIPAT with a minimum of 12 or 10 points respectively. For A-level and IB Diploma entry, a Division 2 in UCE (35 aggregates) or 5A*-C grades (including Mathematics and English) in IGCSE with a minimum B in the chosen Higher Level subjects is required; Maths and Physics HL require an A grade. Equivalence for UCE is needed for IB entry, and the Head of the previous school must vouch for good conduct; notable achievement in non‑academic activities is advantageous.