Kasese — THE Acting RDC for Kasese, Mr Wilson Isingoma, has ordered local leaders in the district to arrest any parent whose child of school-going age will not be found in school next term.

Mr Isingoima's directive follows reports by the LC1 chairman for Kigoro II village, Rukoki Sub-County, Mr Joseph Mbarwa, that almost 300 pupils have dropped out of Kogere Primary School this year.

Speaking during the launch of a health public awareness campaign by Black roots Cultural Research and Entertainment Centre, a Kasese-based NGO on August 25, Mr Mbarwa said the majority of the pupils had abandoned school to work in a marrum mining quarry adjacent to the school.

Mr Isingoma lashed at parents, who since the introduction of Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education, have abandoned their role of providing necessities like lunch and books to their children.

He asked parents to always follow up their children's performance to assist them improve areas where they are weak.

Mr Isingoma urged local leaders to observe hygiene by ensuring that at least each homestead has a pit latrine. He asked the local councils in the district to pass a by-law on drug dealing, which habit he said is becoming rampant in the district.