Manafwa Locals Fundraise Over Shs20m to Renovate Historic Nakhupa Primary School

Residents and parents in Bugebero Town Council, Manafwa District, have taken matters into their own hands by launching a fundraising drive to rescue Nakhupa Primary School from complete ruin. Established in 1920, the Church of Uganda-founded institution has deteriorated severely over the decades, leaving learners and teachers grappling with dangerous infrastructure.

Today, the historic school features cracked walls, leaking roofs, broken windows, and dusty floors without doors. According to the headteacher, Mr Benayo Mangoye, more than 200 pupils have already transferred to other institutions out of fear that the damaged structures might collapse. The institution currently accommodates over 1,270 pupils with just 21 teachers against a required establishment of 30.

To prevent further decline, the Nakhupa Primary School Old Pupils Association spearheaded a fundraising effort that successfully raised over Shs20 million last week. Organizers plan to rehabilitate the Primary Five and Primary Six classrooms first, before moving on to other sections in phases to restore enrollment and academic standards.

Beyond structural damage, the school suffers from acute sanitation challenges, forcing pupils and teachers to share limited pit latrines. Teachers report that overcrowding on worn-out desks has negatively impacted students’ writing postures and concentration, often leading to absenteeism during afternoon lessons. Local leaders have continually appealed to the central government for increased funding to address widespread infrastructural decay across Manafwa’s 61 government-aided primary schools. Read more details in the Daily Monitor report.