Nairobi, Jan. 7 -- Just weeks before the new school year begins, uncertainty has gripped Uganda's education sector, after the government proposed to cap fees and service charges.

This week, private owners and trustees of sponsored schools rejected the cap, leaving parents in a quagmire.

The proposed regulation that the Ministry of Education developed after weeks of reviewing data seeking to tame managers of private schools from increasing fees and other charges that they regularly impose.

The proposal came into the public domain towards the end of last month with confusion reigning as to whether the proposed fees structure will apply immediately.

The next term begins on February 6, yet the schools had issued different fees structures ...