Sanitation Crisis Looms In Luweero As Toilets Fill UP
Pupils play around closed dirty latrine
Ten schools in Luweero district are facing a sanitation crisis ahead of the opening of the third term.
The Most affected are Kikube, Mugogo, Kalasa, Kakoolo, Kiwanguzi, Kyegombwa, Kyevunze, Buzibweera and Bukalasa Church of Uganda Primary Schools among others.
Boniface Chemutai, the Deputy Head teacher Kikube Primary School explains that the school toilet caved in leaving 264 pupils and their teachers without any place to turn to earn nature’s call.
Chemutai says they have mobilized parents to build a temporary structure for pupils ahead the beginning of new term but the stances are not enough.
Edward Bakeera, a parent at Bukalasa Church of Uganda Primary says that the school toilet filled up last term and their efforts to put up another hit a snag due to poverty among parents. Bukeera has asked the district to save the pupils by building new structures.
Alex Tebenderena the Field officer of Forum for Women in Democracy-Luweero branch explains that the pupils are in great risk of infections since they defecate in the open yet many pupils come barefooted.
Tebenderana says that at Kiwanguzi primary school the bad smell from the filled up toilets may affect pupils and lead to stomach upsets.
Richard Ssembajjwe, the chairperson Uganda National Teachers Union-Luweero branch says several school toilets were sinking partly because of shoddy work.
Ssembajjwe says ministry of Education and district must intervene or else the schools may fail to reopen because of lack of sanitation facilities.
Henry Namakola, the Luweero District Education Officer says the department is equally worried that third term will begin on 8th September 2014 but parents and local governments have failed to construct new sanitation facilities.
Namakola says they will not allow the schools to reopen without toilets because it may lead to disease outbreak.
Rosette Katende, the Chairperson of Luweero district Education and Community Committee confirmed the fears and blamed the crisis on budget shortfalls.
Katende explains that last financial year, they planned to construct toilets in 19 schools but due to budget shortfalls, only eight were built.
Katende says they have embarked on a survey to ensure all schools benefit from the available funds for financial year 2014/15. Last year twelve schools in Nakasongola closed prematurely and failed to resume in time after their toilets caved in over rains.
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