MICHAEL N
Pupils and teachers at Kamunyiga Primary School in Kajara, Ntungamo District, are facing a difficult start to the first term of the 2026 academic year following a shortage of classrooms.
The crisis stems from an incident in the third term of 2025, when strong winds and heavy rain destroyed a four-classroom block at the school. Since then, no permanent structures have been put in place to replace the damaged block, leaving learners stranded.
Speaking to our reporter, the Headteacher, Geoffrey Tumwine, said the school has written several letters to the district education department and district leadership seeking intervention, but no response has been received despite the reopening of schools.
Tumwine explained that district officials advised parents to organize and construct temporary classrooms, citing limited funds and the fact that the construction was not budgeted for in the current financial year. As a result, some classes are now being forced to share the available classrooms due to inadequate space.
The headteacher further noted that pupil turnout is still low. He attributed this to parents involving children in domestic work during the first week of the term. He added that some parents prioritize taking children to secondary schools and universities first, delaying the return of primary school pupils until the second or third week of the term.
A private teacher at the school, Roland Asiimwe, said the shortage of classrooms is negatively affecting the learning environment. He noted that some classes may be compelled to study under trees if no immediate solution is found.
Asiimwe appealed to the government to take swift action and construct a modern classroom block, warning that some pupils risk transferring to other schools due to the current conditions.
Meanwhile, the Ntungamo District Communication Officer, Anthony Kushamba, confirmed that the school’s concerns were submitted to the relevant district authorities and are being worked on. However, he said the district has limited funds to facilitate emergency construction this financial year and is awaiting feedback from the responsible ministry.
Authorities are yet to provide a clear timeline for the construction of new classrooms as learners continue to grapple with the challenging conditions.
