education 15 September 2026 Nile Post
Kamuli Pupils Learn Under Skies as Storm Wrecks School
Students at Kinu Primary School in Kamuli District are resorting to outdoor lessons beneath trees after a severe hailstorm and lightning destroyed a classroom block and damaged teachers' housing. The September 11th disaster has significantly disrupted the start of the third school term. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/370917/kamulis-kinu-primary-pupils-study-under-trees-after-storm-destroys-classrooms
The start of the third school term has been thrown into disarray for pupils at Kinu Primary School in Kamuli District, following a destructive hailstorm on September 11th. The storm, accompanied by lightning, tore apart a classroom block and significantly damaged teachers’ accommodation, forcing students to seek refuge under trees.
Learning has been severely impacted, with many classes rendered unusable. Bugabula South Member of Parliament, Matayo Bazanya, and district education officials were dismayed to find pupils conducting lessons outdoors during an assessment visit.
Head teacher Regina Nakate reported that two children were injured during the downpour and required treatment at Namwendwa Health Centre IV. While they are now out of danger, the incident underscores the vulnerability of the students and staff.
Nakate has appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Office of the Prime Minister for urgent assistance to rebuild the damaged infrastructure and restore a conducive learning environment. The school desperately needs support to provide safe classrooms and proper housing for its teachers.
In response to the crisis, MP Bazanya donated Shs5 million towards initial reconstruction efforts, urging prompt use of the funds for debris clearance and repairs. He also advocated for the reinstallation of lightning arrestors in government-aided schools to prevent future tragedies and advised against seeking shelter under trees during storms.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairperson, James Kitamirike, called for community involvement in rebuilding the school, emphasizing collective responsibility. Kamuli District Education Officer Joseph Waibi stressed the importance of reporting such incidents promptly to district authorities for timely intervention.
This incident at Kinu Primary School follows a similar event at Naibowa Muslim Primary School, where a storm also caused significant damage, highlighting a growing need for robust disaster preparedness and quicker government responses to protect educational infrastructure.