APAC – Residents of Abade Village in Aganga Parish, Apac District, have raised Shs6 million to purchase four acres of land for the construction of a government primary school, in a determined effort to address the long distances children walk to access education.
The community initiative comes amid growing concern over the education crisis in the area, where learners are forced to walk up to 10 kilometres each day to attend either Igoti Primary School or Chakali Primary School.
According to residents, the exhausting daily journey has contributed to high school dropout rates, with many children arriving late for lessons, losing interest in education, or abandoning school altogether. Local leaders say some boys have turned to fishing on Lake Kyoga, while many girls face increased risks of early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
The purchase of the land is seen as a major milestone in the community’s long-standing campaign to establish a government-aided primary school closer to the village.
“We have done our part. We raised the money from our own pockets and bought the land. Now we are waiting for the government to come in and put up classrooms,” a local elder, speaking on behalf of the village committee, said.
Although the community has secured the land, construction has not yet begun, prompting renewed calls for government intervention.
Apac District leaders have acknowledged the challenges facing learners in Abade Village and confirmed that the proposal for the new school will be presented before the district council for consideration.
“We are aware of the situation in Abade Village and the surrounding areas. The distance children cover is unacceptable, and we are treating this with the urgency it deserves,” a district official said.
The official added that the council will also consider the process of formally gazetting the land for the establishment of a government primary school.
Education stakeholders argue that the lack of a nearby school undermines efforts to achieve universal primary education and leaves children vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Residents are now appealing to the Government, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, to expedite the construction of classrooms, teachers’ houses, and a borehole so that learners can begin studying closer to home.
“We have the land. We have the will. All we need is the school,” the elder said.
The district council is expected to deliberate on the proposal in the coming weeks as the community continues to hope that its contribution will pave the way for improved access to education for future generations.
