Hailstorm destroys schools, Police post in Mayuge

A pupil standing near the destroyed classroom

Hundreds of pupils at All Saints Bugadde Primary School in Kityerera sub-county, Mayuge district are missing school after a hailstorm destroyed their classroom.

The storm blew off the roof off Primary Four and Three classrooms and also left other buildings badly damaged.

Godfrey Gubi, the headteacher said that over 300 of P3 and P4 pupils are currently missing school.

He said that they attempted to conduct lessons under trees, but they are disturbed by the rains.

 "The pupils are now vulnerable to heavy showers," Gubi said.

The school has a population of over 1,800 pupils, who mostly study from dilapidated classrooms that were constructed by parents years back.

"The Government constructed two blocks which are now used by P6 and P7," David Basoga, the chairperson for the school management committee said. 

Basoga said that they have on several occasions written to the district officials about the appalling state of the school structures, but there has been no response.

 "We have written several letters to the district authorities, but we have not got any positive response," Basoga said.

Geoffrey Kapyata, the chairperson  Parents Teachers Association said most classrooms have cracks and the roofs leak.

"We are afraid that some buildings will collapse because of the poor state they are in," Kapyata said. Bugadde Primary School is a government-aided school, which was established in 1957.

Sarah Nagaiga, a primary five pupil said "When it starts raining, the roof leaks. The teacher stops teaching and goes to the office for shelter leaving us (pupils) exposed to the rain"

Kapyata said the school serves as a sitting centre for primary leaving examinations for about six neighboring schools.

The roof that was blown off

However, Godwin Mugisha, a district councillor representing Kityerera sub-county accused the district officials of neglecting issues in his sub-county.

"There is an emergency fund at the district which can be used to help in such situations," Mugisha said.

Patrick Lwokyaza, the LC3 chairperson for Kiyerera sub-county said the hailstorm also destroyed a number of homes and plantations. It blew off

off roofs of Lwanda Primary School in Imanyiro and Bukatube Police post in Bukatube sub-counties.