As schools across Uganda reopened, fears of a new Ebola outbreak have resurfaced, with many institutions still unprepared despite hard-learned lessons from previous epidemics.
During the 2022 Sudan virus Ebola outbreak in Uganda, schools were forced to close two weeks earlier than scheduled due to rapid transmission among learners. According to the WHO, children were disproportionately affected, accounting for approximately 25% of all confirmed cases. The outbreak was particularly deadly for young children, with a case fatality rate of about 74% among those under 10 years old.
Now, with the Bundibugyo virus strain crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo, health authorities are urging schools to strictly observe all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent a similar crisis.
Yet, a URN spot-check reveals that many schools remain inadequately prepared. Several schools across the country reopened amid heightened Ebola prevention measures, but many were ill-prepared, lacking basic facilities for handwashing, temperature screening, and social distancing.
Our reporter visited multiple institutions in Nansana Municipality where Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were largely absent. At St. Joseph Nansana, there were hardly any hand-washing facilities in the compound, and parents entered freely without temperature checks.
The situation was similar at St. Stevens Primary School, where a teacher told our reporter that existing handwashing facilities were broken and temperature guns supplied during previous outbreaks were no longer operational.
In Maganjo and surrounding areas, schools faced similar hurdles on the first day of reopening, mainly due to inadequate facilities and overwhelming learner numbers. At Sam Iga Memorial College, a Universal Secondary Education (USE) school in Maganjo, handwashing stands and containers had been put in place, but by morning they had not yet been put to use.
Speaking to URN, the school’s Assistant Director of Studies, Jimmy Bagunywa, said the administration was still in the process of installing the handwashing facilities as the day progressed. Bagunywa also revealed that although the school had released funds to procure temperature guns, the devices had not yet been purchased by the start of the first day of reopening.
At Maganjo UMEA Primary School, Headteacher Afua Bogere told URN that the school had mobilized some funds to purchase additional handwashing facilities while awaiting government support through grants. Observations showed jerrycans filled with water and liquid soap placed outside every classroom. Bogere said the school had not yet procured temperature guns, describing the reopening day as too early for full implementation, but plans were underway.
At St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Jinja Karoli, the school was conducting massive sensitization on Ebola in the morning and has set up an isolation room managed by nurse Nabasumba Annet, and requires every learner to present a medical report before entering class.
Ismail Nteza, the school administrator added that the school has a project for learners to make liquid soap for handwashing stations at every corner. However, the school is yet to procure temperature guns.
Primrose Nanyanzi, the District Education Officer for Wakiso, stressed that all schools, public and private, must meet minimal SOP requirements. For public schools, she noted that government has already released capitation grants, and schools should use the funds to improvise on basics like repairing handwashing facilities and buying liquid soap.
Nanyanzi added that even if it wasn’t for Ebola, these wash facilities are now part of school life. Nanyanzi said the education office will soon conduct inspections to assess compliance and continue offering support to schools.
In Masaka, Stephen Kakeeto, the Masaka City Education Officer, indicates their inspection teams are already going around schools to ensure reactivation of emergency response committees and enforcement of standard operating procedures.
According to him, because Masaka is not yet listed among districts apparently at a higher risk, there is a likelihood that head teachers may remain relaxed and not adhering to preventive measures, hence exposing the students to the virus.
“We want to ensure that the schools put in place hand washing facilities in every corner, reactivate their emergency teams that will monitor the status of the learners and report any suspicious signs to the health teams,” he says.
Kakeeto indicates that his office has called a meeting of all head teachers in the area, to among others emphasize the existing Ebola scare and the enforcement of the standard operating procedures (SOPs). Meanwhile, the schools in Masaka have opened in their usual way with parents and leaders freely reporting back without being subjected to any health examination.
After the meeting, Kakeeto says the schools will enforce uniform safety procedures to ensure that the virus does not break up in the area.From Luwero town council, government schools have reinstated the hand washing facilities at the entrance following the Ebola Outbreak.
Godfrey Ssendikaddiwa, the headteacher of Luwero Boys Primary School, said although the school is yet to receive a capitation grant for term two, they have acquired liquid soap on credit and mounted it at the entrance for each learner to wash hands on arrival.
Ssendikaddiwa added they have also ordered for portable screening machines to help the test on arrival of each pupil and any who manifests signs related to Ebola will be isolated in a designated room before they alert Luwero hospital for evacuation.Ssendikaddiwa added that they have encouraged the parents to also buy sanitizers for their children to ensure adherence to SOPS all times.
He however said this may not be possible given the low income of some parents and the school is creating ways to ensure learners use the school hand washing facilities.Luwero Boys Primary School has an enrollment of 1,318 learners, making it the second most populated government primary school in Luwero town council.
In Kabale, at Makanga Primary School in Lower Bugongi ward, Northern Division, our reporter visited and observed no hand washing facility nor messages displayed in the school compound sensitizing about Ebola disease.
At Lower Bugongi Primary School in Upper Bugongi ward, Northern Division, our reporter observed a hand washing facility placed at the school compound. The same applied at University View Nursery and Primary School. At Golden Stars Day Care and Nursery School, in Lower Bugongi ward, our reporter found a teacher teaching pupils how to wash hands at the hand washing facility. A teacher told our reporter that messages about Ebola disease will be displayed in the school compound and classrooms.
At Kabale Primary School, alias DEMO in Central Division, our reporter also observed a hand washing facility placed at the school main entrance. None of the schools our reporter visited had messages about Ebola disease displayed.
Stronger Efforts in Kampala: In Kampala, several schools showed stronger adherence to Ministry of Health guidelines. At KCCA Primary School in Kamwokya, handwashing facilities with soap were available throughout the compound, though temperature guns were not visibly in use. Teachers were seen cleaning desks, though upper primary classes are visibly overcrowded.
The school didn’t conduct the usual morning parade but teachers went class by class sensitizing the students about Ebola and related information.
At Boston Junior School Makindye and Kololo Senior Secondary School, handwashing stations were installed at entrances, with security guards directing students to wash hands before entry. However, a security guard at Kololo SSS noted limited awareness.
“We’re trying to inform people about the Ebola outbreak and the need for caution this time, but most children and parents aren’t aware of it,” he said. “Maybe the school administration will continue telling the students about this and they can be serious.”
Namutebi Jaquiulin Kiberu, Director of Boston Junior School Makindye, told URN that the school had to take Ebola prevention seriously because it has students from several countries, including Congolese nationals. She noted that many students travel home for the holidays, so the school remained cautious. Students have their temperature checked before entering the school and again in class to ensure everyone’s safety.
She however, said that despite the efforts they have put in place of washing hands, measuring the temperatures they have witnessed the challenge of not being aware of the Ebola outbreak among the school children and parents and staff who are not showing risk awareness.
Learner turnout: Low turnout was recorded in several schools on the first day of reopening, a situation teachers described as typical for the opening week.
However, the situation was different at KCCA Primary School in Kamwokya, where turnout was notably high. Several classes, particularly from Primary 4 to Primary 7, were nearly full.
Edith Namanda, the Director of Studies, noted that the school had previously struggled with low student attendance during the first week of term but has since addressed the issue by engaging parents.
She added that schools which impose many requirements that sometimes deter parents, KCCA Primary School welcomes learners with or without complete requirements.
SOURCE: URN
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