More than 1,000 pupils in Ntoroko District did not report to school on the first day after floods submerged four schools. The affected learners are from Umoja, Kachwamkumu, Kanara, and Rwangara Primary Schools.
In 2019, floods from Lake Albert submerged school blocks and latrines at the schools. They also affected several cells in Kanara town council and Butungama sub-county, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.
A report from the district education department shows that some of the school classroom blocks collapsed whereas others have developed cracks because of being submerged resulting from the rising water levels.
Paul Asiimwe, the headteacher of Rwangara Primary School said he has secured a small piece of land in Katuguru camp, that was given to the school by Katuguru Church for temporary use. He says that they plan to set up four tents, where the learners will be taught from.
Umoja Primary School has also secured a piece of land in Rwenyana camp where it will also build temporary classrooms. Benson Atujuna, the headteacher of Umoja Primary School says the 50% capitation grant they received from the Ministry is inadequate to prepare for reopening.
“The 50 percent capitation grant is not enough to prepare for reopening, I will first build the temporary staff quarters because we were promised tents for learners to use as classrooms,” He said on phone.
Atujuna adds that the furniture was also vandalized and iron sheets stolen by the community neighboring the school.
Bonus Pilgrim Mujuni, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Ntoroko district, says that they will do everything possible to ensure that pupils do not miss learning.
Maureen Kusemererwa the District Inspector of Schools in Ntoroko district says that 1500 learners in the affected schools will have nowhere to go unless the schools are renovated or reconstructed.
Friday Mugisa, the Kanara Sub County Chairperson says that there is no free land where temporary classrooms can be constructed because the area has been submerged by floods.
The floods also affected more than 56 Kilometers of the road network connecting various communities and displaced over 11,000 people. According to district officials, they need at least 8 Billion Shillings to relocate the victims.
In October, the district officials asked Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to degazette at least 8 square miles of Tooro Semuliki game reserve land to host communities displaced by floods.
