USEEP: Education Ministry hands over school construction sites as STIA, LGF oversee community safety

Site handover in Namutumba: Officials from the Ministry of Education hand over site documents for Nangonde Senior Secondary School – Namutumba District to contractors

Between 6th and 8th May 2025, the Ministry of Education and Sports officially handed over multiple school construction sites to contractors across Uganda, marking a major milestone in the implementation of the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), funded by the World Bank.

Groundbreaking ceremony as Ministry Officials handed over construction sites for Budidi Seed School in Namayingo District

Schools handed over for construction

The following sites were handed over to contractors for the construction of new seed secondary schools: Bishop Callist School Kambuga – Mukorogyero Village, Rushebeya Parish, Bugongi Sub-county, Kanungu district, Katenga Seed School – Kazira Village, Rukararwe Parish, Katenga Sub-county, Mitooma district, Nkondo Seed Secondary School – Kigando 1 Cell, Ngango Cell, Igorora Town Council, Ibanda district, Nkungu Seed Secondary School – Nkungu Central Village, Nkungu Parish, Nkungu Sub-county, Kazo district, Nangonde Senior Secondary School – Namutumba district and Budiidi Senior Secondary School – in Namayingo district.
All schools are expected to be completed within 10 months, contributing significantly to increased access to quality secondary education.

Community members welcome the school

Role of STIA and LGF: Promoting safety and community engagement

As the construction begins, Science Teaching and Innovations Africa (STIA) and the Luigi Giussani Foundation (LGF) are taking a proactive role in ensuring community well-being under Sub-component 2.1 of the USEEP project. Their primary focus is on safeguarding learners and promoting safety within and around school communities during the construction phase.

With construction often drawing large sums of money and new opportunities into rural areas, there is concern that some youth may be tempted to drop out of school in search of quick earnings, or that young girls may face increased vulnerability. STIA and LGF aim to prevent such risks through continuous community sensitization and monitoring.

Site handover for Nkungu Seed Secondary School – Nkungu Central Village, Nkungu Parish, Nkungu Sub-county, Kazo District

Community Response: Hope and Excitement

Local communities have embraced the initiative with enthusiasm. In Namayingo, local leaders including the Mayor and District Chairperson (LC5) expressed their joy, with one joking that, “We have now added kilograms,” to illustrate the weight of the positive impact the new schools will bring.

Across the country, parents and leaders pledged full support to ensure smooth progress of the construction and long-term sustainability of the schools. For many, this development represents a long-awaited opportunity for their children to access quality education close to home.