Africa-Press – Uganda. In a bold move to tackle high school dropout rates and early marriages among young girls, residents of Nabirama Village in Naluwoli Parish, Butansi Subcounty, Kamuli District, have launched a community-driven project to construct a secondary school.
The initiative, led by the Butansi Elders Forum, seeks to address a long-standing gap in the subcounty, which lacks a government secondary school. With many students—especially girls—unable to pursue further education due to distance and financial constraints, the community hopes the proposed Kamuli Community Secondary School will be a game-changer.
The project has already secured a two-acre plot of land, generously donated by a local resident, Mr. Kezekia Wagubi, to serve as the site for the school.
According to Cornelius Kalema, the Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer of Kamuli District, the education crisis in Butansi is dire.“Out of every 40 pupils who sit for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), only about six manage to join secondary school,” Kalema said, attributing the low transition rates to the long distances learners must travel—often over 15 kilometers—to reach schools in Kamuli Town or Namasagali College.
These challenges have led to a surge in school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, particularly among girls.
Azalia Mikago, Speaker of Butansi Subcounty, said that the presence of a school within the community would dramatically improve retention and motivation among students.
“When a school is nearby, children are more encouraged to study. Right now, many lose hope because they lack role models and accessible schools,” she noted.
The Butansi Elders Forum, comprised of professionals and prominent leaders originating from the area, has taken charge of resource mobilization and community sensitization to support the project.
Forum chairperson Andrew Muwanguzi hailed Mr. Wagubi’s land donation as a critical first step.“Land is a critical factor in such projects, and Mr. Wagubi’s generosity has given us a head start. This school will not only reduce dropout rates but also help fight teenage pregnancies that have become rampant in our community,” Muwanguzi said.
Commissioner of Police Apollo Daaki Muliro, also a member of the forum, emphasized the long-term impact of the initiative.“This initiative will help reduce crime because when children stay in school, they are less likely to get involved in criminal activities,” he said.
Construction on the school has already commenced, with the community optimistic that the facility will be ready for use by next year.
Henry Dikusooka Munaaba, another forum member, said their push to establish the school was guided by local research that identified the lack of a nearby secondary school as a major barrier to education in the area.
“We are determined to ensure our children access quality education within their community. This school represents a brighter future for Butansi,” he said.
The project comes amid growing concern over education in the Busoga sub-region, where poverty, long distances to school, and teenage pregnancies continue to fuel high dropout rates.
As construction progresses, residents hope Kamuli Community Secondary School will not only uplift their children’s futures but also serve as a model for other communities seeking to reclaim their educational destiny through grassroots action.
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