Donor rescues Kikuube school with roofing materials after storm leaves 500 learners exposed

By George Niyonzima

Parents, teachers and learners at Kisiiha Government-Aided Primary School in Buhimba Town Council, Kikuube District, have received a major boost after a well-wisher donated roofing materials to help restore classrooms that have remained roofless since a destructive hailstorm nearly two months ago.

Pastor Lino Galdon, the director of Ebenezer Mary Nursery and Primary School in Kyarwabuyamba Cell, Hoima City, donated 50 iron sheets and timber to repair three classrooms whose roof was blown off during a storm on May 20, 2026.

The storm ripped off the roof of the Primary One, Primary Two and Primary Three classroom block, leaving more than 500 learners exposed to harsh weather conditions during lessons.

Pastor Galdon said he decided to intervene after watching videos circulating on social media showing pupils studying in roofless classrooms under the scorching sun.

Receiving the donation, the head teacher of Kisiiha Primary School, Ali Muhamud Atugonza, described the support as timely, saying it had restored hope to both learners and teachers who had endured difficult learning conditions since the disaster.

According to Atugonza, the school immediately reported the destruction to Kikuube District authorities, including the offices of the Chief Administrative Officer and the District Education Officer. District officials later visited the school, assessed the damage and assured the administration that the classrooms would be renovated.

However, despite the assurances, no repairs had commenced by the time the donation arrived.

“The situation has been very challenging,” Atugonza said. “Strong winds would scatter pupils’ books during lessons, while the afternoon heat forced Primary Three learners to study under a mango tree. Whenever it rained, we had no option but to squeeze learners from the affected classes into upper primary classrooms, disrupting the normal learning programme.”

He said the donated materials would enable the school to carry out temporary roofing works as it awaits the government’s planned renovation under the 2026/2027 financial year.

Atugonza added that the School Management Committee would mobilise additional resources to complement the donation and complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

He also appealed to Kikuube District Local Government to expedite the planned rehabilitation, noting that besides the damaged roof, several school buildings are old and dilapidated, posing safety risks to both learners and staff.

Primary Two teacher Esther Kisaka welcomed the donation, saying it had brought relief to teachers who had struggled to conduct lessons without adequate shelter.

She explained that learners were often forced to move their desks in search of shade, making it difficult for them to concentrate during class.

“We hope these materials will help restore a conducive learning environment for our pupils,” she said.

Kisiiha Village LC I Chairperson Robert Amara praised Pastor Galdon for responding at a time when many parents were increasingly concerned about their children’s safety.

He revealed that some parents had even considered withdrawing their children from the school because of the unsafe learning environment.

Amara described the donation as an act of patriotism and compassion, noting that it was offered without any expectation of personal gain.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Pastor Galdon said his Christian faith inspired him to mobilise resources after witnessing the plight of the learners online.

“My support is motivated by love for children, education and our country, not politics,” he said.

He urged the school administration to ensure the donated materials are used for their intended purpose so that learners can return to safe and comfortable classrooms.

The pastor also encouraged parents and the wider community to work together in responding to emergencies instead of relying entirely on government intervention.

As a long-term measure, he advised the school to plant more trees around the compound to help minimise the impact of strong winds and other climate-related disasters.

Meanwhile, Kikuube District Schools Inspector Amon Zondera confirmed that the district had already budgeted for the renovation of Kisiiha Primary School during the current financial year.

He explained that the project would commence after completion of the mandatory procurement process.

Zondera welcomed Pastor Galdon’s intervention, describing it as timely support that would ease the immediate challenges facing learners as the district prepares for the school’s comprehensive rehabilitation.