EDITOR
Parents and school leaders at Ngezi Primary School in Nyakinama Sub County, Kisoro District, are sounding the alarm over the health and safety risks posed by a longstanding sanitation crisis — a crisis worsened by geographical challenges and what they describe as government neglect.
Established in 1956 and later taken over by the government in 2000, the school now hosts 303 pupils. Yet, despite nearly seven decades of existence, the construction of reliable toilet facilities has remained elusive, thanks to the area’s rocky terrain that complicates efforts to dig long-lasting latrines.
The current latrines, which have served the school for over 15 years, are in a dangerously dilapidated state. Concerned parents like Edward Wegihugu Salongo and Nsangira Robert are worried that unless urgent action is taken, the situation could spiral into a full-blown health crisis, with the risk of cholera, dysentery, and other sanitation-related diseases.
But it’s not just the parents raising the red flag. The school’s leadership is now publicly expressing frustration over what they say is a lack of meaningful government intervention.
Amos Ngayabaseka, chairperson of the school management committee, and Emmanuel Zirimo, chairperson of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), say their appeals for support have fallen on deaf ears. They are now calling on parents to rally together and take matters into their own hands, even as they question why the government continues to turn a blind eye.
Head teacher Alfred Nkuruziza not only confirmed the shortage of toilets but also shed light on deeper systemic issues, including inadequate staffing and a chronic lack of textbooks and other scholastic materials.
His call for help was clear: the government must step in to safeguard the health and learning conditions of Uganda’s rural children.
