Leaders of Ntenungi Secondary School in Kamwenge District have expressed concern over the institution’s future following the withdrawal of support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The school, located in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Nkoma Sub-county, was established in 2022 as a community secondary school with support from the United States government through a UNHCR programme aimed at expanding access to education for refugees and host communities.
According to the school’s Deputy Head Teacher, Peter Amutuhaire, UNHCR had been paying teachers’ salaries since the institution was founded. However, the agency recently halted the financial support, raising concerns about the school’s ability to retain staff and sustain operations.
“Since the school started, UNHCR has been paying salaries for our teachers, which helped us run the school effectively. But the support has now stopped, and we are worried about how we will continue operating,” Amutuhaire said.
He warned that without alternative support, the school risks losing qualified teachers, which could disrupt learning for students.
“If nothing is done, we may lose our teachers because we cannot sustain their salaries. This will eventually affect the learners who depend on this school for education,” he added.
Amutuhaire has appealed to the government to intervene and support the school, particularly by providing grant aid to help cover teachers’ salaries and ensure continuity of learning.
“We are requesting the government to step in and support the school so that we can keep the teachers and maintain learning for our students,” he said.
The funding challenges come amid broader international policy changes. Last year, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, directed federal agencies to begin withdrawing from several international organisations, a move that has affected funding for some United Nations programmes operating in Africa.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of Kamwenge District, Joseph Karungi, acknowledged the challenges facing the school and called on the central government to urgently intervene.
“We are aware of the challenges facing Ntenungi Secondary School following the withdrawal of support from UNHCR. We are appealing to the central government and relevant authorities to find ways of supporting the school so that learners are not affected,” Karungi said.
Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries, and schools such as Ntenungi Secondary School play a critical role in providing education to both refugee and host community children.
Local leaders warn that without timely intervention, the withdrawal of support could disrupt learning and undermine education efforts within the settlement.
