Schools open for second term

By Juliet Lukwago                  

Students and pupils in boarding schools across the country jammed taxi parks and bus stages to report back to school, making the end of the first term holidays and the start of second term.  And it was business as usual for the transport services.

The Ministry of Education and Sports set Monday 14 as the opening date for Term Two.

On Sunday, students travelling to upcountry-based schools had to queue with their luggage for the limited taxis in the taxi parks in Kampala and surrounding areas.

Those who did not want to be caught in this traffic hit the streets as early as 5am to catch the early morning buses and taxis travelling to upcountry areas.

Hannington Karemeera, a senior one student of St. Mathias Kalemba Nazigo SS in Kayunga district, with his father Kato said they woke up very early to get transport.

"Going back to school is always hectic for students whose parents lack private cars. One has to start the journey early," said Kato said.

As usual, taxi drivers put to their advantage the opportunity to raise the transport fares higher than usual for the school-goers.

Some routes which are normally charged sh1,000 for were increased to sh2,000—double the price.

Long queues were also noticed at the bus park known as “Bus Z’abaganda” where students kept waiting for buses and taxis plying up-country routes.