A powerful rainstorm swept through Kitanda Sub-County in Bukomansimbi district, causing significant destruction at Kabandiko Primary School and injuring a pupil.
The storm, accompanied by strong winds, tore off the roof of a school building, which subsequently collapsed, leading to extensive damage.
The storm struck around 2:00 PM while Primary Four pupils were attending lessons.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud creaking noise from the building before the roof suddenly gave way, crashing several meters down.
The injured pupil, Ruth Nassaazi, was quickly attended to, but the incident has left the school community shaken.
With classrooms destroyed and learning severely disrupted, local leaders are urgently calling for intervention.
“We are overwhelmed,” one leader stated. “We don’t know where to start in restoring the school and assisting affected families.”
According to the school’s headteacher, Edith Sarah Nakazzi, the rain began lightly just after midday but intensified rapidly.
As pupils and staff rushed to evacuate the classrooms, one of the roofs caved in, and debris struck Ruth, fracturing her leg. Another nearby structure was also damaged by the storm.
“This incident has left both teachers and pupils in fear,” Nakazzi said. “We need immediate support to rebuild and ensure the safety of the learners.”
The storm’s impact extended beyond the school, affecting several villages, including Bakijjulira, Misenyi, Kabandiko, Migaaju, Gayaza, and Kyankobe, all within Kitanda Sub-County. Local farmers reported severe crop losses, raising concerns about food security in the coming months.
John Wasswa, the Kabandiko village chairperson, expressed concern over the recurring weather disasters affecting the area.
“We had just endured a long drought, and now the rains are destroying our gardens, homes, and schools,” he lamented. “Our farmers are losing their crops, and our children’s education is being disrupted.”