Shs3.2 Billion Project Boosts Education, Tackles Teenage Pregnancy in Yumbe

The Ministry of Water and Environment, in collaboration with the European Union and KfW Development Bank, has unveiled substantial new infrastructure at Yumbe Secondary School and three other schools in Yumbe District. This Shs3.2 billion project, part of the Gender for Development Uganda (G4DU) programme, focuses on enhancing educational quality, improving menstrual hygiene management, and creating safer learning environments.

The initiative directly addresses the pressing challenges Yumbe District faces, including high school dropout rates and an alarming 37% teenage pregnancy rate, significantly above the national average. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities are identified as major barriers, particularly for girls’ education.

Eng. Dr. Felix Twinomucunguzi, representing the Ministry of Water and Environment, emphasized that the project’s goal is to empower adolescent girls by improving access to inclusive education, strengthening knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights, and protecting them from gender-based violence. He noted that poor WASH facilities negatively impact health, dignity, and learning outcomes.

The newly commissioned facilities include classrooms, staff housing, and improved sanitation blocks. At Yumbe Secondary School, the project has reduced classroom congestion and significantly improved latrine access. Before the intervention, one latrine stance served 109 boys and another 82 girls, with a severe lack of changing rooms for menstrual hygiene. The new facilities have eased this burden, contributing to a noticeable absence of pregnant students this year, according to the Head Teacher.

While Yumbe Secondary School’s facilities are complete, the other three beneficiary schools are nearing completion. This infrastructure is part of a broader Shs12 billion program supporting 17 schools in Yumbe. Local officials have welcomed the investment but highlighted that it only reaches approximately 11.4% of the district’s schools, urging for further investment to meet the extensive needs.

As Yumbe District, which also hosts the Bidibidi refugee settlement, grapples with these issues, the project offers a crucial step towards creating better educational opportunities and futures for its young people. The European Union has affirmed its commitment to education as a vital tool for youth empowerment and dropout reduction.

Source: Nile Post