The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Learners displaced by the Kiteezi landfill tragedy face uncertainty as the new school term approaches. For many, the term begins on Monday, though some private schools started the third term this week. Many displaced students and their parents remain stranded, uncertain about how they will return to school.
For many parents, the landfill was a crucial source of income, which has been cut off, leaving them with little hope of sending back their children to school. John Cliff Wamala, Deputy Spokesperson of the Uganda Red Cross Society, stated that the organization does not have resources allocated for school fees, and it is not within its mandate to provide financial support for education.
He noted that while several donors have reached out to support some children, the aid has primarily focused on orphans and students in candidate classes, leaving others uncertain about their educational future.
Leticia Ayesiga, a resident of the Kiteezi camp, explained that she was attending Praise Integrated School as a boarder when the incident occurred. Her home was declared unsafe and placed in a buffer zone, and she and her family were relocated to the camp.
Ayesiga, her mother, and five siblings are now living in the camp, having left behind their home and property. She expressed concern about their inability to afford rental housing or school fees, given that her mother’s income source was lost.
Abdallah Wabwire, a senior learner from Kikaaya College, was dismayed to find his elder siblings in a rented house while his mother and younger siblings were in the camp upon his return from school. Wabwire explained that his mother’s charcoal business, which funded their school fees, was also lost. With their home now inaccessible, his family is struggling to secure funds for the current term.
Fred Mutaawe, Chairperson of the Kiteezi Red Cross camp, emphasized the pressing need for school fees among learners who are neither candidates nor orphans, as the third term approaches next Monday. He mentioned that although promises of sponsorship were made, the families are still waiting for support.
Mutaawe, who has two children—a primary two student and a baby class student—expressed his concerns about their return to school. He stated that without a job, he is uncertain how he will manage their school fees.
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