Learners and teachers at Kanara Seed Secondary School in Kanaara Sub-county, Kitagwenda District, are grappling with difficult learning conditions following prolonged delays in the completion of a Shs2.6 billion school construction project.
The government-funded project, awarded to Skyworth Technology Service Limited under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UGIFT), was launched on January 29, 2023, with an expected completion timeline of 18 months.
More than two years on, the facility remains unfinished and yet to be commissioned.
Designed to expand access to secondary education in Kanaara Sub-county and surrounding communities, the stalled project has left the school community frustrated.
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Speaking to reporters, the school's headteacher, Alfred Muhumuza, expressed concern about the impact on learners.
"Our learners are struggling to find seats because several classrooms do not have desks. The delay in completing the project has greatly affected the learning environment," Muhumuza said.
He added that unfinished infrastructure has created congestion and discomfort among students, undermining effective teaching and learning.
Muhumuza also revealed that teachers expected to reside at the school are facing accommodation challenges due to incomplete staff houses.
"The staff quarters are not yet finished, yet some teachers are supposed to stay at the school. This has created accommodation challenges and affected staff morale," he explained.
He appealed to both district leadership and the Ministry of Education to intervene and ensure the project is completed without further delay.
Efforts by district authorities to have the contractor resume and finalize the works have reportedly been unsuccessful.
Earlier this week, Kitagwenda Chief Administrative Officer Moses R.K. Dalili formally directed the contractor to vacate the site after what he described as multiple failed engagements.
"We recognize that the project has delayed beyond the agreed timeline. After several unsuccessful engagements with the contractor, we have asked them to vacate the site. We are now in the process of identifying another contractor to complete the remaining works so that the school can be put to use," Dalili said.
The Kanara Seed Secondary School project includes six classroom blocks, an administration block, ventilated improved pit latrines, teachers' houses, a kitchen, two science laboratories, a playground, a multipurpose hall, and an ICT library.
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Despite its ambitious design, the prolonged delay continues to hinder its intended impact, leaving learners and teachers anxiously awaiting a fully functional school facility that was meant to transform education access in the area.
