Kampala Diplomatic International School vs Kampala International School Uganda

	K Kampala Diplomatic International School Kampala, Uganda	K Kampala International School Uganda Kampala, Uganda
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year UGX 12,981,678 - 21,888,019	Fees / year UGX 16,647,325 - 105,433,060
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 1 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 600	Pupils 500
Typical class size	Typical class size 12	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 1993
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Plot No. 447, Block 213, Kyebando - Kisalosalo Road, Bukoto, Kampala, Uganda. P.O. Box Number 34249, Kampala, Uganda.
Stages	Stages —	Stages Early Years; Primary School (Key Stage 1; Key Stage 2); IB Diploma
School type	School type —	School type International day school offering the IB Diploma Programme.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Over 450 students representing 46+ nationalities.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
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 / 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 —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement Uniforms are available through the Uniform Shop. Uniform Shop Opening Times: Monday to Friday 7.30am–8.45am and 2.15–3.45pm; Saturdays 9.00am–11.00am; or by appointment.
Food options	Food options —	Food options Lunches are provided and compulsory for all students up to and including Year 9. Students in Year 10 and above may opt to eat school lunches or may provide their own. The lunch menu is rotated throughout each term and includes vegetarian options on Wednesdays.
House system	House system —	House system All students are allocated a house: Bwindi, Otukei, Kibale, Semliki and compete in inter-house events.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details The school follows the National Curriculum for England with modifications for the Ugandan setting.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	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 —	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 —	Higher education progression —
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 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)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	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	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language 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.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	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.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school has four science labs in Secondary and a separate science resource room with a full-time lab technician. There are three computer labs and smart boards in most classrooms. The school provides three music rooms and three performance areas. The campus includes an indoor sports hall, an outdoor basketball court, a 25-metre eight-lane competition swimming pool, two libraries, and a five-acre playing field.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The main sports are football, basketball and volleyball for both boys and girls. Championships in swimming, athletics and cross-country are offered at primary and secondary levels. KISU competes in the ISSAK league. The campus has an indoor sports hall and an outdoor basketball court to support these activities.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities In Secondary, there are four science labs and a dedicated science resource room with a full-time lab technician. Primary science is taught within the topics studied. There is a LEGO Studio with LEGO robotics equipment for learning. Two libraries serve Early Years/Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2/Secondary, with around 27,000 books. Art and Design facilities include specialist art rooms for Primary and Secondary, an additional studio and a kiln for clay work; Cambridge IGCSE Art and Design and IB Visual Arts are offered.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities Students participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including outdoor education and international trips to destinations such as the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore and Dubai, as well as visits across Uganda and East Africa. An annual ski trip to Europe is a highlight. These activities support a holistic approach to education and foster community involvement. The school also hosts various events and clubs as part of the extracurricular program.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History Established in 1993 with 67 students. It has grown steadily and now serves over 450 students representing 46+ nationalities. The program is designed to enhance a student's self-confidence and independence. State-of-the-art facilities include four science labs, three computer labs, three music rooms, three performance areas, an indoor sports hall, outdoor basketball court, a 25-metre eight-lane pool, two libraries, smart boards in most classrooms and a five-acre playing field. Students participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including outdoor education and international trips to the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore and Dubai, with an annual ski trip to Europe.
Community	Community —	Community KISU is a supportive community that nurtures students in intellectual, talent-oriented and ethically built ways. The school uses a holistic approach to education and encourages active involvement in community-building initiatives. Decades of building trust and meaningful partnerships with neighbouring schools, along with extensive community consultation, help the school reflect and serve the wider community. The school serves over 450 students from 46+ nationalities.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at KISU supports school activities and helps bridge the relationship between parents and teachers. PTA members note the staff's duty of care across the various hats and roles they play. Parents describe a culture that embodies diversity and inclusion and value after-school activities such as skating, baking and MUN. The school offers multifaceted extracurricular experiences that contribute to a healthy balance between academic and non-academic life. Students in the IB Diploma Programme report strong support from teachers in a fostering, engaging environment.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school has launched an AS Cambridge class and it is very successful in both sciences and Arts. The school has sent teachers to a Cambridge Training & Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya; it was the only school nationwide to do so. The school has classes from KG-1 through AS Level.	Academic & intellectual IB Diploma Programme is offered. IGCSE Art and Design (Cambridge – 0400) and IB Visual Arts are taught, with an additional Art room in Secondary used as an IGCSE/IB Studio and a kiln for clay work. There are two specialist Art and Design teachers, one in Primary and one in Secondary.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative Two specialist Art and Design teachers, one in Primary and one in Secondary, are supported by dedicated art rooms. IGCSE Art and Design (Cambridge – 0400) and IB Visual Arts are offered, with the Secondary Art room used as an IGCSE/IB Studio. A kiln is frequently used for both Primary and Secondary clay work. Art and Design lessons develop practical, technical and critical skills and use arts language.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school has 46 nationalities represented. It offers international trips to the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, Singapore and Dubai, as well as visits across Uganda and East Africa. An annual ski trip to Europe is a highlight. MUN is among after-school activities.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies More than 30 clubs are offered after school. The main sports are football, basketball and volleyball, with championships in swimming, athletics and cross-country. After-school activities also include karate, cricket, ballet, inline skating, gymnastics, table tennis, baking and Zumba.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service KISU emphasizes community-building initiatives as part of its holistic approach to education. The school fosters involvement in community projects through its extracurricular activities and school events.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional IB Diploma Programme is offered. A Head Boy position is noted for 2024 (DP1 student), indicating leadership opportunities for students. The DP pathway is described by a student as challenging and growth-oriented.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing KISU emphasizes holistic development through sport and clubs. There are more than 30 clubs after school, including football, basketball and volleyball, with championships in swimming, athletics and cross-country. Facilities include a 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool, an indoor sports hall, an outdoor basketball court and a five-acre playing field.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision The school uses English as the language of instruction. The curriculum integrates the British and international education systems, transitioning from an English National Curriculum adapted for our setting in Primary to IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate Programmes in Secondary. French is taught as a weekly specialist subject in Key Stage 1. Cambridge Assessment English affiliations support English language development in Early Years.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	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.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	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.
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