In a circular issued on October 5, 2023, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) nationwide have been instructed to prepare a comprehensive list of dilapidated primary schools within their respective districts. This directive, originating from Mr. Isaac Musumba, Chairperson of the Local Government Finance Commission, addresses the issue of several schools still operating in temporary and unsafe structures, jeopardizing the safety of students.
The circular requires local leaders to include essential information for each of the run-down primary schools, such as the school’s name, location, year of establishment, the number of pupils, and photographic evidence. The lists compiled are intended for consideration in the upcoming financial year.
“We are concerned that there are schools still operating in temporary and dangerous structures. The Commission intends to raise this issue with the President, in accordance with Article 194(4)(a) of the Constitution. Please ensure that the lists reach us by November 4,” stated Mr. Musumba.
This directive has been issued at a time when many school administrations across the country are reporting the deteriorating state of their facilities. For instance, St Charles Lwanga Primary School in Kalungu District cited instances where lessons are canceled during rain because classrooms become unusable, and there is a risk of classroom collapse.
The most affected institutions are primary schools under the jurisdiction of local governments, many of which struggle with budget constraints for constructing suitable schools in their regions.
Mr. Musumba explained in an interview that the budgeting process for the 2024/2025 financial year has already commenced, and the lists of dilapidated schools will serve as crucial evidence for presentation to legislators.
District Education Officer of Isingiro District, Mr. Godfrey Nkuba, reported that they have directed their district inspectors to compile a list of schools in poor condition for submission to the Commission in the upcoming weeks.
Efforts to contact the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, Dr. Denis Mugimba, were unsuccessful as of press time. However, in April of this year, the Ministry of Education allocated Shs82.9 billion for the renovation of schools under the universal primary education (UPE) program in 176 local governments, excluding Kampala Capital City. At that time, Dr. Mugimba stated that local government leaders were expected to identify the most dilapidated schools and prioritize them for renovation.
