Women-led accountability drive exposes education gaps in Kotido Municipality

A citizen monitoring exercise led by women in Kotido Municipality has exposed critical deficiencies in the delivery of education services, highlighting widespread issues across local schools.

The exercise uncovered major challenges including overcrowded classrooms, insufficient infrastructure, poor sanitation facilities, and a lack of adequate staff accommodation. These conditions are directly impacting the quality of learning and pupil attendance in municipal schools.

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The school has only five staff houses serving 34 teachers, three pit latrines, and no dedicated staff room. Teachers currently use the library for meetings and administrative work.

Findings from the monitoring were presented at an interface meeting on July 15, 2026, at the Kotido Youth Centre. The gathering brought together women leaders, school administrators, municipal officials, political leaders, and community members to collaboratively discuss the problems affecting education. The initiative was part of the Women's Amplified Voice for Accountability (WAVA) Project, implemented by Nakere Rural Women Activists (NARWOA) in partnership with the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), with support from several European embassies in Uganda.

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The attendance figures raise concerns about absenteeism and possible school dropout.

At Kotido Army Primary School, which enrolls over 1,000 pupils, the report noted only 144 desks and eight classrooms, forcing some students into shifts. Some classrooms are also used as dormitories due to limited boarding facilities. The school has only five staff houses for 34 teachers and lacks a dedicated staff room, with teachers using the library for meetings. Concerns were also raised about a cracked classroom block and the growing number of street children in the municipality.

Similar issues were reported at Lomukura Primary School, where some desks accommodate up to six pupils and classrooms host over 100 learners. With an enrollment of 2,304 pupils, only 1,083 were present during the visit, raising concerns about absenteeism and potential dropouts. Inadequate staff housing, poor sanitation, limited space for school activities, and weak follow-up systems for students leaving school were also identified. Poor hygiene and security conditions, including an incomplete fence and overgrown school grounds, were also criticized.

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The school compound is bushy, and the dormitory was not opened for inspection. The fence is incomplete, exposing children to security r