Parents of Rwengoobe Primary School in Ganyenda Parish, Kamwenge Sub-County, Kamwenge District, have called on the government to construct more classrooms to provide a safe learning environment for their children.
Their concerns follow a near-tragic incident on Monday when a heavy hailstorm destroyed a dilapidated classroom built by parents. Fortunately, no pupils were inside at the time, averting a potential disaster.
The school, which has over 400 pupils, struggles with severe infrastructure challenges. Of its seven classrooms, only two were built by the government, while parents constructed the remaining five to accommodate the growing number of learners.
However, these makeshift structures pose a significant risk, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Head teacher Edson Nzamuye confirmed the incident and expressed concerns over the safety of the learners.
“The wind blew off the roof just moments after the pupils had left for home. We are grateful that no one was hurt, but this shows how dangerous the situation has become,” he said.
Following the incident, Nzamuye convened an emergency meeting where parents voiced frustration over the slow government response to the school’s infrastructure challenges.
“It is disheartening to see our children learning in unsafe conditions. We have done our best to build classrooms, but we need the government to step in,” one parent said.
Kamwenge District Acting Education Officer Stephen Barinaitwe assured parents that their concerns are being addressed.
“We recognize the urgent need for better infrastructure at Rwengoobe Primary School. The district is planning improvements under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP),” he explained.
Barinaitwe urged parents to be patient as the project is rolled out.
“We understand their anxiety, but I want to assure them that plans are in place. We ask them to remain calm as we finalize arrangements to implement the project,” he added.
While hopeful about the planned intervention, parents are calling for swift action to prevent further risks.
In the meantime, they continue to seek interim solutions to ensure their children’s safety and uninterrupted learning.