Long walks fuel school dropouts in Kaberemaido landing site

Kaberamaido, Uganda | URN | Every morning, children from Akampala Landing Site in Kaberamaido District walk more than five kilometres to Okola Primary School in Swagere Parish, Ochero County, the nearest government primary school. For many, the walk is simply too long, forcing them to miss classes, abandon school altogether and, in the case of many girls, end up in early marriages.

Residents say the absence of a government primary school has trapped the community in a cycle of illiteracy, school dropouts and teenage pregnancies, prompting renewed calls for government intervention. Akampala Landing Site, which is home to about 1,800 people engaged in fishing, farming and small businesses, has no government learning institution despite years of appeals from residents.

Jessica Akiteng says many children fail to complete primary education because the nearest school is too far away. “Most of the young girls here get married at around 15 years because by then they have already dropped out of school and have no other option but to remain at home,” she said.

Akiteng explained that children spend nearly two hours walking to school each day, arriving exhausted and often unable to attend classes consistently. She added that for more than a decade, political leaders have repeatedly promised to establish a government primary school, but the promises have never materialised.

“Whenever leaders come here, they tell us money has been allocated for a school, but after they leave, nothing happens,” she said, adding that residents feel neglected despite paying taxes like other Ugandans. Leah Iriebat, a mother of six, believes a nearby school would keep children in class and protect them from harmful influences.

“If the school was close, every child would be able to attend. Right now, many simply cannot manage the long distance,” she said. Iriebat urged leaders to stop viewing Akampala solely as a fishing community, noting that many families have permanently settled there and contribute to the local economy. She also expressed concern that many young boys have turned to drug abuse because they lack meaningful opportunities.

“An idle mind is easily drawn into bad behaviour. Education gives children life skills and hope for the future,” she said, adding that children currently walk more than five kilometres to access a government primary school. Akokoma Village LC I Chairperson George William Opoon said the community has already identified land for the proposed school and informed district authorities, but no progress has been made.

According to Opoon, the long journey to school means many children attend classes only once or twice a week before eventually dropping out altogether. He warned that the situation has contributed to rising cases of teenage pregnancy, early marriages and HIV infections among young people.

However, Kaberemaido District Inspector of Schools Morice Edonu said although the education department is aware of the community’s concerns, there are currently no plans to establish a government primary school at Akampala. He instead encouraged residents to first establish a community school, arguing that such an initiative would attract support from government, political leaders and development partners.

“There is a private school nearby. Let the community utilise it for now. If they establish a community school, government and other partners can later come in to support it,” Edonu said. The nearest private school in the area is Rays of Hope Nursery and Primary School, which most parents say they can not afford its fees.

Despite the response from district officials, residents remain hopeful that the government will eventually establish a public primary school, saying it would improve school attendance, reduce early marriages and give children in the landing site a better chance at a brighter future.