Curriculum7 min
IB in Uganda: where it is, what it costs, who it serves
Four schools currently authorised. Here is what each one does well, and where the curriculum hits friction.
18 Feb 2026Read
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International School of Uganda
Lubowa, Wakiso
Founded
1967
Enrolment
720
Teaching staff
95
Class size
~18
About
What this school is, in plain words
ISU is Uganda's flagship International Baccalaureate World School, accredited across PYP, MYP and DP, with a richly multinational student body drawn from more than 50 nationalities. Its 50+ acre Lubowa campus is the most architecturally generous in the country.
A message
From the director
“Our mission is unchanged since 1967: to graduate compassionate, internationally-minded, intellectually curious young people who can thrive in any university and any culture on earth.”
Performance
National exam results
IB Diploma 2024
Average score 35/45; 100% pass rate; eight bilingual diplomas
University placement 2024
94% to top-100 universities globally
What this school emphasises
Focus areas
Academic AchievementTertiary PathwaysCo-curricular ActivitiesDigital TechnologiesPersonal Development
The Praecip verdict
Best-in-class IB programme; the priciest gate in Uganda
ISU is the obvious answer for families committed to global mobility. The IB through-line is rigorous, the teaching staff genuinely international, and university outcomes consistently rival good US/UK private schools.
Cost is the obvious objection, annual fees rival Kenyan and South African peers and outpace local salaries. The aid programme is meaningful but oversubscribed. For families with the means, however, ISU is unrivalled in Uganda for international university admissions.
Praecip ratings
How we score this school
4.70/ 5 · Praecip composite
Academics9.30
Core Curriculum9.60
University Admissions9.50
Teaching Quality9.30
Campus & Facilities9.50
Alumni, Reputation & Prestige9.40
Meals & Wellbeing8.80
Personal Development9.20
Sports8.60
Technology & Innovation9.10
Music, Dance & Drama8.50
Pastoral Care9.00
Fees
Tuition by class & residency
| Level | Class | Residency | Amount | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | EY1 | day | $8,500 | / year |
| Nursery | EY2 | day | $8,500 | / year |
| Nursery | EY3 | day | $8,500 | / year |
| Primary | G1 (PYP) | day | $14,500 | / year |
| Primary | G2 (PYP) | day | $14,500 | / year |
| Primary | G3 (PYP) | day | $14,500 | / year |
| Primary | G4 (PYP) | day | $14,500 | / year |
| Primary | G5 (PYP) | day | $14,500 | / year |
| O-Level | G6 (MYP1) | day | $19,500 | / year |
| O-Level | G7 (MYP2) | day | $19,500 | / year |
| O-Level | G8 (MYP3) | day | $19,500 | / year |
| O-Level | G9 (MYP4) | day | $19,500 | / year |
| O-Level | G10 (MYP5) | day | $19,500 | / year |
| A-Level | G11 (DP1) | day | $22,500 | / year |
| A-Level | G12 (DP2) | day | $22,500 | / year |
Payment methods
- · Bank Transfer
- · Wire Transfer
- · SchoolPay
Term-fee installment plans available.
What fees cover
- · Tuition
- · Textbooks & curriculum resources
- · Lunch
- · Most field trips
Bursaries & discounts
ISU Need-Based Aid
Up to 50% of tuition for high-achieving local students who otherwise could not attend.
Sibling Discount
10% off second sibling, 15% off third.
For new entrants, one-off extras
- Capital fee (one-off)$5,500
- Application fee$250
- Uniform & PE kit$350
Application & registration
What you'll need
Application requirements
- Applicant's birth certificate / passport
- Two recent school reports
- Reference from current school
- Parent ID / passport
- Application fee
Application fee: $250
Entrance interview required.
Cut-off points
Holistic admissions; no fixed cut-off.
Admissions open
2025: 480 applied · 145 offered places
Diary
Upcoming events
Open Day
14 May 2026
IB Results Briefing
7 June 2026
In the news
Latest from the school
ISU named IB World School of the Year (Africa region)
For programme breadth, university outcomes and community impact.
1 April 2026
News & insights
Related reading
News5 min
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Boarding intake is climbing in schools that were historically half-day. The reason is the Northern Bypass.
29 Mar 2026Read
Where alumni go
The afterlife of a school
Notable alumni
Various
Diplomats, World Bank economists, MIT/Stanford graduates
Top universities
- · Yale University
- · University of Toronto
- · Imperial College London
- · École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- · Duke University
- · McGill University
Where alumni work
- · United Nations
- · World Bank
- · Goldman Sachs
- · Médecins Sans Frontières
Campus
Facilities
curricular
- · STEM/Innovation hub
- · IB-aligned libraries (3)
- · Performing arts theatre (350-seat)
extracurricular
- · 25m swimming pool
- · Athletics track
- · Tennis & basketball courts
- · Astroturf football pitch
transport
- · Door-to-door bus network across Kampala
safety
- · Perimeter wall & professional security
- · On-site health centre with full-time nurse
- · CCTV across campus
Gallery
A look around
On social
Follow this school
Parent reviews
What families are saying
Both kids transitioned seamlessly from ISU into top US universities
Both kids transitioned seamlessly from ISU into top US universities. Worth every dollar.
A Parent01 February 2026Be the first to find this useful
Outstanding programme but the fees stretch even well-off families
Outstanding programme but the fees stretch even well-off families.
Anonymous Parent10 March 2026Be the first to find this useful
Reviews are post-then-flag moderated. Sign in to write a review (coming soon).
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