School administrators say that few learners have turned up after rebels on Wednesday night killed dozens of people and caused thousands to flee into Uganda. They say many learners and parents fear that the group might overrun schools with intentions to abduct the learners.
Asiimwe says that whereas parents could be trying to give basic information to their children, they are limited by cultural barriers and a lack of appropriate knowledge. Masika Kulthum, the Assistant Kasese District Education Officer-DEO, says that schools play a fundamental role in young people's behavior.
The CAO Fred Kalyesubula says the implicated headteachers have been given up to one week to refund the money and account for its withdrawal without due procedures.
Dr. Christopher Kiyita, the Bundibugyo District Health Officer-DHO, says that the victims are at the risk of developing health complications including fistula as a result of producing before their bodies are fully developed.
In September, Uganda National Examinations Board - UNEB cancelled the Primary Leaving Examinations-PLE results of 273 pupils from the district after being found guilty of examination malpractices.
Bundibugyo District Education Officer, John Byamukama told URN at his office that they have conducted an inspection in 30 schools in the district and found out that many of the schools have lost properties to thieves and suffered an invasion from local communities who have destroyed structures and turned school premises into grazing grounds.
Schools and other educational institutions were first closed in March 2020 shortly before Uganda registered its first cases of COVID-19. Although they were re-opened in October 2020, the second wave of infections forced the government to close schools again in May 2021 and they have since remained closed.
The Bundibugyo District Education Officer, John Byamukama says some of the head teachers have recorded statements at police and incase of criminal offences they will be prosecuted.
Faith Kabafumu, the OC in charge of the Child Protection Unit, says that children are the most affected in these cases. She says that the COVID-19 lockdown has exposed children to a risky lifestyle and to offenders who usually take advantage of their age and domestic challenges.
According to the Head teacher of the school, Saidi Orikiriza, the community used to fund the operations of the school by paying 3 Million Shillings every term, but currently, they can’t even realize 200,000 Shillings.
Grace Pamela Adong, the Bundibugyo District Probation Officer, says a number of girls aged between 13 and 18 years might not return to school because they are either married, breastfeeding or still be pregnant.
According to the DEO Bundibugyo District Justus Bithaghalire, the district had given a go ahead to schools that scored atleast 60 percent of the recommended Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) issued the Ministry of Education and Health to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Happy Johnson, the school director of studies says the lack of a library means the learners are unable to add more knowledge to what they have already acquired in class.
Silver Kyomuhendo, a science teacher at the government aided Bubukwanga secondary school in Bubukwanga Sub County, explains that her school hasn’t received some teaching guide and materials like text books from the Ministry as planned. She says to resolve this problem they have been forced to start WhatsApp where they can share the material.
In Bundibugyo district there are no Kwamba and Lhubwisi instruction materials (books) to use under the thematic program for lower primary. The Bamba and Babwisi account for more than 50 percent of the population in Bundibugyo but Schools instead use Lhukonzo instruction materials.
Richard Magezi, the Bundibugyo District Inspector of Schools notes that the schools have been operating boarding sections illegally until when they conducted an impromptu visit on Wednesday and caught them rend handed.
Last week, UNEB announced that it had withheld the results of eleven schools in Bundibugyo over allegations of examination malpractice affecting 600 candidates. UNEB disclosed that it had received information from security indicating that some teachers had been found writing answers for candidates on chalkboards and that the parents of the learners had paid Shillings 50,000 to facilitate the malpractice.
The Bundibugyo District Inspector of Schools - DIS, John Byamukama, says from the day the results were withheld, he has met a number of parents who have confessed that some head teachers asked them to contribute some money a few days to the examination but didnt tell them what is was meant for.
Arnold Bagonza, a parent of Ntandi Primary School says the district was harsh in its decision. He says the SMCs members have been visiting the school and interacting with teachers and the parents frequently.
