Choosing between Cambridge and UNEB in 2026
Parents keep asking the same question. Here's the honest answer, university outcomes, cost, and the part nobody mentions.
Namagunga, Lugazi, Mukono
Founded
1945
Enrolment
880
Teaching staff
78
Class size
~32
About
Mt. St. Mary's Namagunga is one of Uganda's most consistent producers of female academic and professional leaders, set on rolling sugar-belt hills outside Lugazi. Established in 1945 by the White Sisters, the school combines high academic standards with a serene rural setting.
A message
“Namagunga has always educated the whole woman, intellect, faith, body and conscience. We want our girls to leave here grounded in something durable.”
Performance
UCE 2024
93% Division 1; consistent top-10 girls' school nationally
175 candidates in Division 1
UACE 2024
Two students with full 20 points
What this school emphasises
The Praecip verdict
Namagunga consistently sits in the top tier of girls' results without the publicity Gayaza attracts. The rural distance from Kampala is genuinely formative, distractions are few, the chaplaincy is real, and academic focus is the default.
Trade-off: getting to and from school during opening/closing weekends is a project, and modern STEM facilities are still being built. For families willing to commit to true boarding, this is one of the best values in Uganda.
Praecip ratings
Fees
| Level | Class | Residency | Amount | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-Level | S1 | boarding | USh 1,650,000 | / term |
| O-Level | S2 | boarding | USh 1,680,000 | / term |
| O-Level | S3 | boarding | USh 1,720,000 | / term |
| O-Level | S4 | boarding | USh 1,750,000 | / term |
| A-Level | S5 | boarding | USh 1,930,000 | / term |
| A-Level | S6 | boarding | USh 1,930,000 | / term |
Termly fee due upfront, installments not offered.
Diocesan Bursary
Need-based for Catholic girls of strong academic record.
MDD Bursary
For exceptional Music, Dance & Drama talent at S1 entry.
Application & registration
Application fee: USh 50,000
Entrance interview required.
PLE Aggregate ≤ 8
UCE Aggregate ≤ 17 with Division 1
Admissions currently closed
Next intake: September 2026, for 2027 academic year
2025: 1,500 applied · 175 offered places
Diary
Visiting Day
26 May 2026
In the news
Namagunga MDD troupe wins national festival
Best performing-arts troupe at the National Schools Festival.
30 March 2026
News & insights
Parents keep asking the same question. Here's the honest answer, university outcomes, cost, and the part nobody mentions.
A close read of UCE and UACE 2024, what the topline misses, and which schools earned the bragging rights.
Where alumni go
Various
Senior judges, surgeons, World Bank economists
Campus
curricular
extracurricular
transport
safety
Gallery
On social
Parent reviews
Best decision we made for our daughter. Quiet, focused, faithful environment.
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