SIMPSON M
St. Peter’s Secondary School in Nyarushanje Sub-county, Rukungiri District, remained closed on Monday after students failed to attend classes due to severe flooding that left one classroom collapsed.
According to the headteacher, Godfrey Arinaitwe, classes were canceled on Monday, 30th September 2024, as all the school’s classrooms were inundated by heavy rains that occurred on Sunday night.
He explained that St. Peter’s Secondary School, being situated in a valley, has frequently been affected by flooding. In response, the school constructed a trench to manage water flowing from the surrounding mountains.
Arinaitwe attributed the flooding to poor farming practices by local farmers, who have obstructed water channels and blocked drainage systems, worsening the situation. He noted that farmers often direct their terraces to a single area, causing excessive water to flow into valleys, leading to destruction.
He emphasized that all classrooms were filled with water, and even the toilets were affected, causing waste to spread throughout the school, which now requires urgent attention.
Godfrey called on the government to educate farmers, particularly those in hilly areas, on sustainable farming practices. He also appealed to district authorities for assistance, requesting machinery to dig a larger trench and help construct new classrooms and toilets. With an enrollment of over 1,000 students, the school is currently at a standstill.
In addition, Nyarushanje Subcounty Health Inspector, Muzoora Godwill, warned of dangerous conditions, including waterborne diseases and threats from reptiles, as well as structural damage to the school. He stressed that the flooding poses serious health risks to students due to pollution from overflowing toilets and urged all relevant ministries to intervene immediately.
