By Josephine Kayaga
Ugandan singer and actress Hellen Lukoma has shared her experience with the growing financial demands of parenting, revealing that her son’s nursery school fees cost more than Shs5 million per term.
Speaking in a recent interview, Lukoma explained that raising children today has become more expensive than many people imagine, especially for parents living in urban settings where schools now offer luxury services and international exposure.
The actress said education expenses go beyond tuition, noting that transport, school activities, and international trips have become part of modern parenting.Lukoma humorously revealed that her son prefers being driven to school in his father’s Mercedes-Benz instead of her Range Rover.“My son doesn’t like my car; he likes his father’s Benz, so it’s the one that takes him to school,” she said.
According to Lukoma, schools today organise international tours and activities that require parents to spend even more money compared to previous years when school trips were simple and local.
The singer, who is married to businessman Anwar Kaka, said the changing lifestyle trends among children have increased pressure on parents to provide the best education and experiences for their families.
Her remarks have since sparked conversations online about the high cost of education in Uganda and the growing lifestyle expectations among wealthy families in Kampala.
Many social media users reacted differently, with some praising Lukoma for being honest about parenting challenges, while others questioned the increasing commercialization of children’s education.