Caution to Schools Directing or Forcing Parents or Guardians to Purchase School Items from Selected Suppliers.

2022-01-06

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has noted with concern the growing tendency of some schools who are in the habit of directing or forcing parents or guardians to purchase school uniforms and books among others strictly from selected suppliers or their schools.

In light of this, schools are urged to only provide a general standard of the school items required without limiting where the parents/guardians should purchase them from. This conduct is anti-competitive as it distorts the competition landscape among the players in the provision of such items and is detrimental to consumer welfare as it deprives consumers of their choices.

CCPC therefore reiterates the fact that parents and guardians should be allowed to purchase school items such as uniforms and books among others from any source of their preference and should not be directed or forced to purchase items from a single source as long as such items are fit for purpose.

Further, CCPC would like to caution all schools that are involved in this practice that it will not hesitate to impose appropriate penalties on any schoolwhich violates the provisions of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) No.24 of 2010.

Mrs Namukolo Kasumpa

Senior Public Relations Officer