NEW ENVIRONMENT: Shimoni pupils play at their new school at East Kololo yesterday

By Carol Natukunda & Conan Businge

Over 7 million pupils flooded the gates of the country’s primary schools yesterday on the first day of the new school year.
For the 2,000 Shimoni pupils whose school in central Kampala was pulled down and the 15 acres given away to an investor, it was more than just a change of class.

Wearing their blue-and-white uniforms, they were still trying to get used to their new school, where steps and pavements were in the final stages of completion.

Shimoni Demonstration School relocated to East Kololo. But the new site can only accommodate 780 pupils and is too far out for some pupils. “This is very expensive for most of us because there are no taxis on this side,” said one pupil.
Another 10-year-old said: “This place is very far. My home is in Kibuye. When we were at the old site, my dad used to drop me at Jinja Road and I walk to school. Now, I have to use a bodaboda.”

The remaining one thousand-or-so pupils were accommodated in other schools in the city. Kibuli Demonstration School registered 187 pupils from Shimoni, while Bat Valley Primary School took 25. “I am impressed with the numbers. They will be happy here,” said Sebaggala Kigozi, the headmaster of Kibuli.

“We respect Shimoni reports. If they passed, we admit them immediately without doing interviews,” remarked Sarah Baziwe, the head teacher of Bat Valley.

But for some kids, it will take more than just a day to get settled. While other pupils were playing about, Shimoni children stood apart in small groups.
“I miss my friends and my old school,” said Jamilla, a Primary Five pupil at Bat Valley.

For the general public, the sight of the blue-and-white uniformed children who brought life and joy to the city centre is lost forever.