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Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Taught languages English, French, Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction
Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) is an international day school serving students aged 1 to 18. It offers a British-based curriculum with Cambridge IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme, while following the National Curriculum for England with Ugandan modifications. Established in 1993 with 67 students, the school now serves around 450 students from 46 nationalities, reflecting a diverse learning community. The school supports self-confidence and independence through a broad, inquiry-based program, backed by extensive facilities: four secondary science laboratories with a dedicated science resource room and technician; three computer labs; three music rooms and three performance areas; an indoor sports hall; an outdoor basketball court; a 25-metre eight-lane pool; two libraries with about 27,000 books; smart boards in most classrooms; and a five-acre playing field. Extra-curricular activities include outdoor education and trips to the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore and Dubai, with a ski trip to Europe, enriching learning experience.
Early Years; Primary School (Key Stage 1; Key Stage 2); IB Diploma
Type
International day school offering the IB Diploma Programme.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Over 450 students representing 46+ nationalities.
Fees
Annual tuition at Kampala International School Uganda ranges from UGX 16,647,325 to UGX 105,433,060 for 2026/27.
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.
Academics
Kampala International School Uganda teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 18.
Curriculum
The school follows the National Curriculum for England with modifications for the Ugandan setting.
Student Teacher Ratio
There are 32 certified teachers and over 450 students, giving an approximate student–teacher ratio of about 14:1.
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.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school is a learning community that cares about all stakeholders and puts the interests of children at the centre. It develops resilient and self-confident learners and is enriched by its international-mindedness. It nurtures intellectual curiosity and encourages students and teachers to be reflective, critical thinkers. It develops the whole person and cultivates highly effective communicators who are creative, critical and analytical thinkers, prepared to lead tomorrow's world.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school aims to be inclusive and welcomes students with Special Educational Needs when their needs can be catered for and effectively supported. The Learning Support Coordinator and other relevant staff discuss each individual case, and former school records and tests are required to provide details of any previous learning support or clinical assessment.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Many local and international prospective students may enter with English as an Additional Language (EAL). In these cases, students are assessed on their English language proficiency and potential to learn. Admission is on a case-by-case basis, and depending on ability, students may receive in-class support or be withdrawn from certain lessons for additional help. The school offers English and French language classes.
Safeguarding
There is a designated safeguarding lead structure within the school. Zoe Wise is Head of Primary and Designated Safeguarding Lead, and Robert Buga serves as Head of IT and Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Head of Secondary, ensuring safeguarding and child protection responsibilities are actively supported.
Admissions
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.
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.
FAQs
What curriculum does KISU follow?
KISU follows the National Curriculum for England with Ugandan modifications. Students take Cambridge IGCSE and then the IB Diploma Programme in the upper years.
What ages does the school serve?
KISU serves students aged 1 to 18 across Early Years, Primary School, and the IB Diploma Programme.
How diverse is the student body?
Over 450 students representing 46+ nationalities attend KISU, creating a truly international learning community in Kampala.
What are the IB requirements?
To begin the full IB Diploma, students must achieve grade B or higher in IGCSE for Higher Level subjects and grade C or above for Standard Level subjects.
What are the tuition fees?
Annual tuition ranges from approximately UGX 16.6M to UGX 105.4M depending on year group. Enrolment fees range from USD 580 for Early Years to USD 3,200 for Year 1 through IB2.
Does the school have a house system?
Yes, all students are allocated to one of five houses: Bwindi, Otukei, Kibale, or Semliki. Houses compete in inter-house events throughout the year.
What learning support is available?
KISU welcomes students with SEN when needs can be effectively supported. A Learning Support Coordinator assesses each case individually using former school records and clinical assessments.
Is there a uniform requirement?
Yes, uniforms are available through the school's Uniform Shop, open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings.
What dining arrangements are in place?
School lunches are compulsory for all students up to Year 9. Students in Year 10 and above may opt out. Menus rotate through a variety of healthy options.
What safeguarding measures are in place?
KISU has designated safeguarding leads across both primary and secondary sections who are actively responsible for child protection policies and procedures.
When was the school founded?
KISU was established in 1993 with 67 students. It has grown to serve around 450 students from 46+ nationalities.
What facilities does the campus have?
The campus includes four science labs, a science resource room with a full-time technician, three computer labs, smart boards in most classrooms, and extensive sports facilities.
