Blessed Trinity Schools in Nalweyo, Kakumiro District, western Uganda, is facing a growing storm of allegations accusing it of engaging in sectarian practices based on religious affiliation. Parents and teachers have come forward with troubling claims suggesting that non-Catholics are being systematically excluded from enrollment and employment, raising serious questions about fairness, inclusivity, and the role of religious institutions in educational access.
Multiple parents have lodged complaints, claiming that their children were denied admission solely because of their religious backgrounds. One parent, speaking to The Daily Nile on condition of anonymity, recounted a deeply disappointing experience during the school’s enrollment period. “I went to register my child for the new intake, but we weren’t even shortlisted,” the parent said. “When I asked why, no one said it directly, but it was obvious that because we aren’t Catholic, my child had no chance—regardless of performance,” the parent added.
According to this parent, the process appeared designed to filter out those who did not conform to Catholic faith. “No matter how smart your child is, he or she cannot qualify if you’re not of their religion,” the parent added. Another parent shared a similar account, explaining that their child had successfully passed the entrance interview but was still rejected. “The questions I was asked were shocking—what church do you go to? Who is your priest? What’s his phone number? Meanwhile, there was another parent who was Catholic whose child had failed the interview, yet they were admitted.”
The allegations have not only come from parents. Teachers, too, have raised the alarm, alleging discriminatory practices in the school’s hiring processes. Several current and former staff members who spoke anonymously described a pattern in which Catholic applicants were openly favored for jobs—regardless of qualifications. “They want the entire administration and teaching staff to be Catholic,” one teacher explained. “No matter how qualified you are, if you’re not Catholic, you don’t stand a chance. But if you are, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll get hired.”
Another parent, also requesting anonymity out of concern for retaliation, questioned the uniqueness of Blessed Trinity School’s alleged practices, drawing comparisons with other religiously affiliated institutions across Uganda. “We have seen schools founded by various religious groups—Anglican, Muslim, Pentecostal—admitting pupils and employing teachers from all sorts of religious backgrounds,” the parent noted. “Why is Trinity different? Why are they acting like education is only for one group?”
The parent elaborated, emphasizing that faith-based foundations do not necessarily equate to exclusion. “Other religious schools operate on their beliefs, yes, but they still serve the wider community. They don’t shut the door on children just because they come from another denomination or faith. That’s how it should be. We live together in this country, worship differently, but we still coexist. Schools should reflect that spirit.”
This perspective underscores a broader expectation within Ugandan society—that schools, even those founded by religious institutions, should be spaces of learning, growth, and unity for all children, not just those who align with a particular creed. By allegedly adopting an exclusionary approach, critics argue that Blessed Trinity School may be undermining both the inclusive values of education and the social fabric of the diverse communities it serves.
These claims, if verified, point to a systemic culture of religious bias within an institution that serves a diverse community. Blessed Trinity School is a Catholic-founded mixed day and boarding school that offers education from nursery through A-level. As a faith-based institution, it has the right to uphold certain religious principles, but the growing list of complaints suggests it may be violating principles of equity and non-discrimination, particularly in a country where the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal access to services.
Attempts to reach the school’s administration for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Local education authorities and community leaders are now being urged to investigate the matter thoroughly. In a region where religious diversity is both a reality and a right, these allegations, if left unaddressed, could deepen divisions and undermine trust in faith-based education providers.
The controversy surrounding Blessed Trinity School is emblematic of a broader national conversation about how religious institutions should balance their foundational beliefs with the inclusive mandate of modern education. As more voices speak out, the school—and perhaps others like it—may find themselves at the center of an uncomfortable but necessary reckoning.
editorial@dailynile.com
