Bushenyi — At least 200 pupils in primary schools in Kanyabwanga Sub-county, Bushenyi District have been forced out of school due to hunger, Daily Monitor has learnt.

The most affected primary schools are Kanyabwanga, Kashongoro and Kibungo.

Mr Rueben Byanyima, the head teacher of Kanyabwanga Primary School confirmed that over 200 children in the three schools have failed to report to school.

"This is a serious issue that needs a combined effort," he said, adding: "The pupils instead go to Queen Elizabeth National Park to look for firewood which they take to markets for sale in order to look for money."

Other pupils, he said, cross to Bikurungu Market in Rukungiri District taking on petty jobs.

Kanyabwanga Sub-county lies in the western rift valley which experiences a different type of climate from the rest of Bushenyi.

The population in the sub-county depends on rice growing which they sell off, leaving them with nothing in their granaries.

It is common to find parents confining their children in rice fields to guard them against birds in the sub-county. The Kanyabwanga councilor, Mr Benon Karyaija, said there is need to sensitise parents about putting their children in school.

The District Education Officer, Mr Norman Lukum, said his office has not been informed about the massive drop out of children due to famine.

He said his department will secure relief food for them to see that they remain in school.

The sub county found in Ruhinda County is one of the remotest areas in Bushenyi.