Budo recovers from tragedy
Apr 13, 2011
EXACTLY three years ago, fire gutted a dormitory at Budo Junior School, killing 20 pupils. The school was closed, found to be highly indebted and its storeyed classroom block was condemned as a disaster in waiting.
By Conan Businge
EXACTLY three years ago, fire gutted a dormitory at Budo Junior School, killing 20 pupils. The school was closed, found to be highly indebted and its storeyed classroom block was condemned as a disaster in waiting.
But the school has now overcome its debts and is gradually rebuilding its enrolment.
According to the head teacher, Ernest Kavulu, the school has hired an engineering firm, which has been doing assessment on the storeyed building.
The school’s financial position is also gradually stablising. By the time of the inferno, Budo Junior, according to sources, had a sh2b debt.
Kavulu, however, said the school has so far cleared at least 79% of all its debts.
Buddo Junior has a new face. All the buildings have been renovated and looks ‘fresh’, save for the building in which the pupils perished. Although the beds are still triple-decked, they are well-spaced.
The school’s academic performance has also been improving every other year.
The parents sued the Government, school management committee and Wakiso district. Led by their leader, Prince Leo Kabumbuli, the parents want sh200m for each dead child or sh4b for all the victims.
Last year, the Government asked for an out-of-court settlement with the parents of the school.
But up to now, the parents have never been compensated. The case will come up again for hearing on Thursday next week.
Kabumbuli yesterday told New Vision that save for the constant reminders by parents to the Government to be compensated, they had never got any response from the Government.
The parents of the deceased pupils will have a commemoration service at Namirembe Cathedral on Sunday this week.
EXACTLY three years ago, fire gutted a dormitory at Budo Junior School, killing 20 pupils. The school was closed, found to be highly indebted and its storeyed classroom block was condemned as a disaster in waiting.
But the school has now overcome its debts and is gradually rebuilding its enrolment.
According to the head teacher, Ernest Kavulu, the school has hired an engineering firm, which has been doing assessment on the storeyed building.
The school’s financial position is also gradually stablising. By the time of the inferno, Budo Junior, according to sources, had a sh2b debt.
Kavulu, however, said the school has so far cleared at least 79% of all its debts.
Buddo Junior has a new face. All the buildings have been renovated and looks ‘fresh’, save for the building in which the pupils perished. Although the beds are still triple-decked, they are well-spaced.
The school’s academic performance has also been improving every other year.
The parents sued the Government, school management committee and Wakiso district. Led by their leader, Prince Leo Kabumbuli, the parents want sh200m for each dead child or sh4b for all the victims.
Last year, the Government asked for an out-of-court settlement with the parents of the school.
But up to now, the parents have never been compensated. The case will come up again for hearing on Thursday next week.
Kabumbuli yesterday told New Vision that save for the constant reminders by parents to the Government to be compensated, they had never got any response from the Government.
The parents of the deceased pupils will have a commemoration service at Namirembe Cathedral on Sunday this week.