education 10 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Protecting Education Amidst Floods: A Call for a Systemic Solution
Persistent flooding in regions like Kasese forces many children out of school permanently due to the loss of family income, highlighting the urgent need for integrated educational support within disaster recovery plans. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/letters/flooding-should-not-be-the-reason-a-child-permanently-leaves-school-5590048
Annual floods in areas such as Kasese, Bundibugyo, and the Mt. Elgon region have devastating consequences that extend beyond immediate property damage. While government relief efforts provide essential immediate aid like food and blankets, a critical gap exists in ensuring children can resume their education once the waters recede.
For families dependent on agriculture or small businesses, the destruction of crops and livelihoods can make school fees, books, and uniforms unattainable. This financial strain often leads to permanent school dropouts, derailing young lives and forcing them into early labor, such as boda boda riding.
While Uganda has established disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, these often overlook the specific needs of children’s education. Unlike the swift repair of infrastructure like roads, there is no automatic system to support families struggling to afford education following a disaster.
To address this, a proposal for a “Youth Climate Education Insurance (Supplementary) Act, 2026” has been put forward. This act would provide automatic, temporary educational support—including school fees for a term and essential supplies—to students in officially declared disaster-affected areas. The aim is to prevent education disruption without complex application processes for already distressed families.
Implementing this would require clear verification processes and dedicated funding, potentially through reallocating existing disaster response resources or accessing climate finance. It’s crucial that disaster recovery includes safeguarding the future of young Ugandans by ensuring their education is not a casualty of climate-related events.
Parliamentarians from flood-prone regions are urged to champion this cause, advocating for a comprehensive system that protects both the lives and the educational futures of young people in Uganda. Addressing the long-term impact of disasters on education is as vital as immediate relief efforts.