Kampala International School Uganda (KISU)

What Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) does

Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) is a private, fee-paying international school located on a five-acre campus in Bukoto, Kampala, serving over 450 students from 46+ nationalities aged 15 months to 18 years. Established in 1993 with 67 students, KISU delivers a continuous educational pathway following the English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and the IB Diploma Programme, organized across Early Years, Primary (Key Stages 1-2), Secondary (Key Stages 3-4), and the IB Diploma (Years 12-13).

The school's core "product" is the bundled educational service: classroom instruction combined with extensive facilities including four science labs, three computer labs, three music rooms, four performance areas, a 25-metre eight-lane competition swimming pool, indoor sports hall, two libraries holding ~27,000 books, a bespoke LEGO Innovation Studio, a food technology kitchen, and over 30 Smart Boards. Supporting technology includes the Edadmin portal system (separate logins for parents, teachers, and students), the Accelerated Reader Portal for literacy, and a Pamoja Education partnership enabling online IB course delivery. Over 30 after-school clubs and international trips across the UK, Europe, and Asia complement classroom academics.

KISU's revenue model is tuition-driven, with term-based and annual billing quoted in USD. Per-term fees for the 2026-2027 academic year range from $1,970 (Kindergarten half-day with lunch) to $15,365 (IB Diploma, paid half-yearly implying ~$30,730/year). One-time enrolment fees range from $580 (Kindergarten) to $3,200 (Years 1-11). Compulsory lunch ($1,240-$1,760/year) and optional bus service ($495-$680/term) provide ancillary recurring revenue. Admissions are processed directly via the school office, supported by campus tours, the website, monthly newsletters, and community referrals. The school operates under an Advisory Board chaired by Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, with no disclosed external private equity or venture capital backing.

Name

Kampala International School Uganda (KISU)

Legal name

Kampala International School Uganda

Website

https://kisu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) is a private international school in Kampala serving over 450 students from 46+ nationalities, offering the English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and IB Diploma Programme from Early Years through age 18.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• International school education
• IB diploma program
• Cambridge IGCSE curriculum
• Primary secondary school
• Early years education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees charged per term or annually. Fees vary by grade level, with higher fees for senior years (IB Diploma Programme). Optional lunch and bus services available at additional cost. Enrolment fees charged one-time upon admission.
2. Ancillary Services: Optional services including school lunch programme and bus transportation. Lunch is compulsory for students up to Year 9.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) is a private international day school delivering Early Years through IB Diploma education to over 450 students aged 15 months to 18 years. The school offers a continuous pathway covering Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary (Key Stages 1-2 following the English National Curriculum), Secondary (Key Stages 3-4 leading to Cambridge IGCSE), and the IB Diploma Programme. Revenue is generated primarily through term-based tuition fees, with supplementary income from lunch and bus services.

Product overview

Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) offers a comprehensive international education program from Early Years (15 months) through Secondary/IB Diploma (age 18). The school operates as a single unified institution comprising multiple educational levels: Early Years (Kindergarten 1-3 and Reception), Primary School (Key Stages 1-2, Years 1-6), Secondary School (Key Stages 3-4/IGCSE, Years 7-11), and the IB Diploma Programme (DP1-DP2). KISU's facilities include specialized studios for LEGO/Science/ICT/Music/Drama/Food Technology, two libraries, sports facilities (swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields), and cafeteria services. The school follows British and international education frameworks (English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB Diploma) and partners with Pamoja Education for additional online IB courses. With over 450 students from 46+ nationalities, KISU provides holistic education combining academic rigor with extensive extracurricular activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Years Education (Kindergarten & Reception) Early childhood education programme for children aged 15 months to 5 years, covering Kindergarten 1-3 (half day) and Reception (full day), with a play-based, child-friendly curriculum.
• Primary School (Key Stage 1 & 2) Primary education programme following the English National Curriculum for children aged 5-11 years (Years 1-6, Key Stages 1 and 2), with specialist classes in French, Art, ICT, Music, and PE.
• Secondary School (Key Stage 3 & 4 / IGCSE) Secondary education covering Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 / IGCSE (Years 10-11), preparing students for Cambridge IGCSE examinations under the University of Cambridge framework.
• IB Diploma Programme International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offered in the Senior School (IB1 Year 12 and IB2 Year 13), providing internationally recognised curriculum and examinations. Students may pursue a full IB Diploma, a trial IB Diploma, or IB Course certificates.
• Online IB Courses via Pamoja Education Additional online IB subject options available through Pamoja Education, allowing KISU students to access subjects not directly offered on campus.
• Bus Transportation Service

Quantifiable outcome

• IB Diploma results consistently in line with global standards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISU is an authorized IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme. The partnership provides internationally recognized curriculum and examination standards, with KISU students achieving results in line with global standards.
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISU offers Cambridge IGCSE examinations and follows Cambridge curriculum frameworks. The partnership provides internationally recognized qualifications for secondary students.
• Global School AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISU is a member of the Global School Alliance, an international network committed to sharing best practices in international education. Benefits include professional development for staff, school improvement support, global student connections, and curriculum enhancement resources.
• Cognia Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKISU holds accreditation through Cognia Global Network, demonstrating commitment to quality education standards and continuous improvement.
• The Beacon ScholarshipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKISU is affiliated with The Beacon Scholarship programme, providing scholarship opportunities for students.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ambrosoli International School: Kampala-based international school explicitly referenced in KISU management bios as a prior employer. Competes for the same international-family segment with similar curricula and price positioning.
• International School of Uganda (ISU): Long-established international school in Kampala offering international curricula including IGCSE and IB. Directly comparable to KISU on geography, target customer (international and affluent local families), and curriculum mix.

Broad incumbents

• Braeburn Schools: Network of international schools in Kenya and Tanzania (referenced in KISU management bios). Comparable on British curriculum, IGCSE, and international-family target market at a regional East Africa level.
• Aga Khan Academy: Network of premium IB-affiliated academies across East Africa (Mombasa, Nairobi, Maputo). Operates a comparable IB continuum with similar international-family positioning, though as part of a broader institutional network.

Regional players

• International School Moshi (ISM): Tanzania-based international school offering IB Diploma Programme. Comparable on IB continuum and international-family target market within the broader East Africa international school segment.
• Lincoln Community School: Accra-based international school offering IB programmes to a comparable expatriate and affluent-local demographic. While geographically distant (West Africa), it is structurally similar in scale and curriculum mix to KISU.
• International School of Kenya (ISK): Established international school in Nairobi offering IB programmes. Comparable premium positioning and international-family base, though serving a different East African city.
• Acacia International School: Kampala-based international school offering British curriculum pathways. Targets a similar expatriate and upper-middle-class demographic in the same city as KISU.
• Greenhill Academy: Large Kampala private school network with international curriculum tracks. Comparable on geography and price tier though typically positioned slightly below KISU's premium IB continuum.
• Brookhouse School: Nairobi-based international school offering British curriculum through to A-Levels. Comparable on premium international positioning and family demographic, operating in the same regional East Africa market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kisu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kampala-international-school-uganda

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kampala International School Uganda (KISU)