Rainbow International School Uganda vs Vienna College Namugongo
Rainbow International School Uganda and Vienna College Namugongo are both in Kampala, about 12 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels programmes. Rainbow International School Uganda also offers EYFS, British, IPC and BTEC Qualification, and Vienna College Namugongo also offers Cambridge (Secondary) and Cambridge International AS Levels. Published annual fees are UGX 2,750 - 17,195 at Rainbow International School Uganda and UGX 4,746 - 8,850 at Vienna College Namugongo, which puts Rainbow International School Uganda roughly 47% higher. Rainbow International School Uganda takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Vienna College Namugongo from 11 to 18. Rainbow International School Uganda is the larger school, with around 800 pupils to Vienna College Namugongo's 400. Typical class sizes are 12 at Rainbow International School Uganda and 25 at Vienna College Namugongo.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Curriculum
Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Namugongo Road, Kira, Wakiso District, Uganda. Vienna College Namugongo is a Cambridge International (CIE) Centre UG010. It is a private co-educational institution.
Stages
Stages
Early Years, Primary and Secondary.
Stages
Cambridge International Examinations Curriculum at Junior, IGCSE and GCE “A-levels”.
School type
School type
Co-educational day and boarding international school.
School type
The school is a private co-educational institution.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
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.
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.
Tuition and accommodation fees (per term) — listed by year group - Year 07: USD 1,582 per term. - Year 08: USD 1,836 per term. - Year 09: USD 2,109 per term. - Year 10: USD 2,505 per term. - Year 11: USD 2,611 per term. - Year 12 & 13 (Humanities/Arts): USD 2,837 per term. - Year 12 & 13 (Sciences): USD 2,950 per term. - Day students receive a reduction of USD 150 from the listed boarding/tuition amount per term.
Tuition — annual calculation (three terms) - Annual fee is calculated as three terms. Example calculations: - Year 07 annual (3 terms): USD 4,746 (3 × USD 1,582). - Year 12 & 13 Sciences annual (3 terms): USD 8,850 (3 × USD 2,950). - Payment of fees in advance for a full academic year attracts a 5% discount on the term's fees applied to the payment.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are due on or before the start of the first week of each term. - Payment in advance for the full year qualifies for a 5% discount on the term's fees. - A sibling discount of 3% per child applies where more than one child is enrolled at the same time. - All fee‑related queries must be submitted in writing to the Head of Finance; decisions on fee matters rest with the Credit Committee.
Boarding / accommodation - The listed tuition figures are published under “Tuition and Accommodation Fees,” indicating the amounts include boarding accommodation for resident students; day students pay USD 150 less per term. - The college operates multiple boarding houses for resident students.
Other recurring costs and mandatory extras - Medical insurance: UGX 100,000 per annum. - Sports fee (games kit): UGX 50,000 per annum. - School meals (boarding): three compulsory meals are provided for resident students; catering is managed by the college (additional optional canteen purchases may apply).
Refunds and penalties - Fees paid are non‑refundable. - Any exceptional refund or fee dispute must be raised in writing with the Head of Finance and may be considered by the Credit Committee; the Credit Committee's decision is final.
Fee payment options and bank details - Bank transfer payments are accepted in multiple currencies via the college accounts: - Absa Bank of Uganda Ltd – Dollar A/c, Account Number: 0344248397, Swift: BARCUGKX. - Absa Bank of Uganda Ltd – UGX A/c, Account Number: 0341399475. - Stanbic Bank – Pound A/c, Account Number: 9030008662583, Swift: SBICUGKX. - For account enquiries use accounts@vienna.ug or the college finance office phone numbers.
Administrative notes on discounts and conditions - A 5% discount applies when paying the full year in advance (applied to the term fees). - A 3% sibling discount applies per child when more than one child is enrolled concurrently. - The bursar's office may not vary fee decisions without Credit Committee consent.
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
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.
Curriculum details
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) curriculum for Junior, IGCSE and GCE A-levels.
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.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
The Prospectus notes a proven track record of excellent examination results.
Exam results
In October/November 2024, 139 students sat Cambridge GCE AS & A-level examinations; 19 attained four A's.
Higher education progression
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.
Higher education progression
Guidance and counselling supports personal, social, educational and career development.
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
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.