Bunambutye settlement camp residents demand for secondary school

Bulambuli, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Residentsof Bunambutye resettlement camp in Bulambuli district are demanding for a secondary school to ensure learners in the area access education services.

The residents argue that for more than two years ago since they were relocated to the camp, their children have remained at home. 

The government constructed Bunambutye Primary School while their secondary school counterparts were promised to be taken to Masaba Secondary School in Sironko district. 

However, students who had been enrolled at Masaba Secondary school were dismissed over failure to raise fees.   

The residents now want the government to establish a secondary school within the premises of the camp to cater for the education of learners instead of taking them to Masaba SS which they say is costly.   

Sam Wanga, a resident and Chairman of the management committee of the Primary school says that many children in the area could stop in P.7 and failed to proceed to secondary due to the absence of a school. 

Nathan Wilson Wanansolo, the Bunambutye resettlement camp Chairperson says that the Bulambuli district and OPM officials never involved the leadership of the camp when children were being enrolled at Masaba Secondary School. 

Felista Nandudu and Rhoda Buteme, some of the residents said that during relocation, the officials from OPM told them that they would educate their children at the school, but wonders why their children have been dismissed.

She wants the government to expedite the program of school construction in the area.

Amos Shibale, a S.3 student who was dismissed from Masaba Secondary School, says that he was told to pay Two Million Shillings for the two previous years. 

Bulambuli District Education Officer, Ibrahim Gimadu says that establishing a secondary school within the camp is a good idea.  He however says that his office is not aware of the students who were dismissed from Masaba Secondary School. 

Wambende Hussein, the headteacher of Masaba SS said that the school had registered over 400 learners from the camp but the ministry of Education informed the school that only 56 were beneficiaries of the program. 

“When we got the report from the ministry we advised the parents to pay school fees but those who could not afford had to return their children home,” Wambende said. 

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URN