Alimah Aryemah, the chairperson of Muhokya IDP camp, says that the camp has about 183 school-going children many of whom are under the care of single mothers. She told URN that none of the 60 students in secondary school was able to report back on Monday.
Parents in Muhokya
Internally Displaced Camp-IDP in Kasese District are struggling to send back
their children to school. Schools across the country re-opened on Monday after nearly two years
of closure triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The camp hosts 222 households. Our reporter visited Muhokya
Internally Displaced Camp on Monday and found many school-going children still at home. Parents say they don’t have money to purchase
at least the most essential scholastic materials.
Alimah Aryemah, the chairperson of Muhokya IDP camp, says that the camp has about 183 school-going children
many of whom are
under the care of single mothers. She
told URN that none of the 60 students in secondary school was able to report
back on Monday.
She also revealed that the camp leadership managed to buy 35 paged books
for one pupil
in primary one and two to resume studies. These
have all been sent to Muhokya primary school.
//Cue in: “Mu IDP Muno…
Cue out: …baja kusoma batya.”//
The camp chairperson says parents are unable to raise
money to buy scholastic materials and other basic items including paying fees for their children especially
those in Secondary because the Sub County does not have a government secondary
school.
//Cue in: “Nawe kati sawa…
Cue out: …meal or a day.”//
Ramathan Asaba, a father of 8 school-going children, says that all his children are
still stuck at home because he could not find the usual work in cotton gardens due to the poor season. Whereas he hopes to send some of those in
primary to school within this week, Asaba says he will be unable to raise
school fees for those that are in secondary.
//Cue in: “Ate ekizibu kya sente…
Cue out: …esobole okututasa.”//
Fatima Kisembo, another parent in the same camp has lost hope
of all her children re-joining school this term. Kisembo has been
supporting her family by doing casual labor in cotton gardens but many farm
owners have trimmed staff
because of the poor season.
//Cue in: “Aban banu nibagya…
Cue out: …mu camp kuku tuli.”//
Kasifah Biira, who has spent more than a year in Muhokya camp, says that five of her eight children are supposed to be
in school but that was not possible for a single mother like her. Biira has managed to send two children to Muhokya primary school without
enough scholastic materials and uniform.
//Cue in: “Abaan nyina abana…
Cue out: …ntuza kubasobora tuta.”//
Paskazia Kabugho, the headteacher of Muhokya Zonal school, says that they understand the challenges of parents in
the camp and they have given their children an open window to join as
they are. He says they have so far
registered 30 children in primary one and two.
//Cue in: “The registration has…
Cue out:…from the front.”//
Alfred Kule, who is supposed to join
primary seven at Kanyangeya Primary School, says that his parents did not even discuss his return to
school because they don't have money.
The tearful 15-year-old wants the government and local leaders to prioritize children in candidate classes and support them
to return to
school.
Kasese LC V
Chairperson,
Eliphazi Muhindi says the district is following up on the issue of
permanently resettling the group so that they can re-start their lives
again.
