More than 1,200 pupils at Naguru Katali Primary School in Kampala are sharing a single toilet block with 32 teachers and staff, a situation school leaders describe as a growing health and dignity crisis.
Head teacher Beatrice Abuku raised the concern on Saturday during a visit by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials, who were at the school to commission a newly constructed modern kitchen donated by the Rotaract Club of Kololo.
Abuku said the lack of separate staff toilets has reached an alarming level, forcing both teachers and learners to use the same facility. She stressed that while the school has made progress over the years, the sanitation and infrastructure gaps remain urgent.
“We have children sharing toilets with teachers because the staff do not have their own toilets,” Abuku said, noting that teacher housing is also strained. Currently, two teachers share a single room, and a flat meant for four families now accommodates seven due to the deployment of 10 new teachers last term.
Built in 1958, Naguru Katali Primary now serves 1,212 learners, including 230 nursery pupils. Classroom furniture shortages have compounded challenges, with some pupils forced to sit on the floor during lessons. Of the school’s 32 teachers, 20 are on the government payroll, while six nursery instructors and six additional teachers are supported by the school management committee.
KCCA deputy Director of Social Services and Education Jimmy Amatre acknowledged the scale of the challenges and assured the school that sanitation improvements are underway in several institutions, including Naguru Katali in the next phase of interventions.
The newly commissioned Shs74 million (USD 21,000) modern kitchen, built by the Rotaract Club of Kololo, is expected to transform the school feeding programme. The facility includes spacious food and dry-goods stores, a ventilated stove room, energy-efficient stoves, stainless steel workstations, a new water tank, proper chimneys, a clear serving area, and improved hygiene measures.
“If children are served clean food in a safe environment, we shall see more focus on learning and later produce a generation that will better our communities,” said Rotaract Club president Sylvia Ntongo.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, described the kitchen as a “game changer,” emphasizing the importance of nutrition in sustaining pupil performance.
The event concluded with tree planting on the school grounds, reflecting the Rotaract Club’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The school community expressed hope that continued support would address long-standing challenges, creating a safer and more conducive learning environment.