Build A Primary School for 300 students in Uganda!

We are pleased to share that the construction of temporary boarding facilities has been successfully completed.

To meet an urgent need, future classrooms were thoughtfully converted into boarding spaces. While our long-term goal remains to build a standalone, permanent dormitory, limited funding required us to implement this as a practical and immediate solution.

The current setup includes:

• A girls’ dormitory accommodating 20 students
• A boys’ dormitory accommodating 20 students
• Dedicated washrooms with showers and toilets for boarding students (each equipped with 5 showers and 3 toilets)
• Three additional rainwater harvesting tanks to ensure reliable access to water for bathing and sanitation
• A private room for the matron and patron

This milestone marks a significant step forward in improving both the learning and living environment for our students. The addition of dedicated washrooms ensures access to safe, hygienic sanitation facilities, enhancing daily comfort and supporting overall health and well-being.

Immediate Impact on Students

The impact of boarding is already evident. Due to limited space, we have prioritized Primary 6 and Primary 7 students, those preparing for Uganda’s Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), a critical national exam that determines access to secondary education.

Currently, 28 students (19 girls and 9 boys) are benefiting from boarding, receiving two meals per day and gaining an average of 3.5 additional hours for morning and evening studies.

With boarding, these students now have:

• More time to study and prepare
• Protection from long, often unsafe commutes
• Relief from challenging or unstable home environments

For many, this has eliminated daily commutes of several miles, with some students previously walking up to 7 miles each way just to attend school, significantly improving attendance, safety, and their ability to focus and learn.

As a result, we are already seeing improvements in attendance, concentration, and academic performance.

Student Spotlights

Rinah previously traveled to school each morning by bicycle, facing cold weather and busy traffic that made her journey both stressful and unsafe. Since joining boarding, she now lives on campus in a secure and supportive environment, allowing her to focus more fully on her education.

Victor, on the other hand, comes from a busy home environment centered around a small roadside restaurant with a bar, which made studying difficult. He was also responsible for grazing goats in the evenings, leaving little time or energy for schoolwork. Boarding has provided him with a structured, quiet space to learn, free from distractions and negative influences, helping him build discipline and improve academically.

A Dedicated Space for Girls’ Empowerment

In addition, the Girls’ Empowerment Program (GEP) now has a dedicated, newly painted and branded classroom, thanks to a grant from the Women’s Microfinance Initiative (WMI).

Previously, the program lacked a consistent space, especially during monthly Saturday sessions when girls from all four partner schools come together. These sessions, serving approximately 70 girls, are critical not only for academic support but also for socialization, as many participants rarely leave their home communities.

Our Girls’ Empowerment Program currently serves 72 girls across four partner schools, providing consistent access to mentorship, life skills training, and peer support.

The new space now allows for:

• Group learning and review sessions
• Workshops such as sanitary pad making
• Mentorship and life skills training
• Continuity even during rainy weather

This dedicated environment significantly strengthens the quality and consistency of the program.

Looking Ahead

We are excited to soon complete a library and computer lab, which will:

• Provide students with access to books and digital learning
• Serve as a community resource center for Kyanamira
• Support broader access to education and skill development

Looking further ahead, our long-term campus vision includes:

• A multipurpose hall with a permanent school kitchen
• Permanent dormitories for both boys and girls
• A school bus
• The purchase of additional land to support our growing student population

Each of these developments builds on the strong foundation already in place, ensuring that every child has access to a safe, holistic, and high-quality learning environment.

Your continued support through this project helps us take these next critical steps forward.

Evidence’s Success Story

Evidence’s life has been transformed since joining boarding school.

Previously, she walked 7km (more than 4 miles) to school, passing through isolated areas with bushes and bars, especially dangerous in the evenings. At home, supper was not always guaranteed, and access to water for bathing was often limited.

Today, boarding has changed that reality.

She now has:

• Safe accommodation
• Regular meals
• Reliable access to water for daily hygiene

Beyond meeting basic needs, she now has time to study, collaborate with peers, and receive guidance from teachers. This supportive environment has already strengthened her confidence and improved her academic performance.

Her story is a powerful reminder that investing in boarding is not just about infrastructure, it is about creating the conditions for children to thrive.

Just $35 can support a student’s education, meals, and safe environment for an entire month—helping ensure that more children like Evidence have the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a brighter future.

What Has Been Accomplished

We are pleased to share that at the start of the third school term this September, seven rooms on the first level of our primary school building were fully completed and ready for use. Since then, students have been learning comfortably in more spacious, organized, and welcoming environments, greatly enhancing their overall school experience.

1. Completion of 3 New Classrooms and 4 Additional Functional Rooms

The three newly completed classrooms currently serve Primary 4, Primary 5, and Primary 6 learners. Previously, Primary 6 was studying in the smallest available space, which limited free movement and affected learning activities.

When asked about their experience in the new classroom, students shared:

“In the small classroom, we were so squeezed and didn’t have enough space for energizers, but in the new class we have enough space and the environment is better for learning.”
— Ciara, Primary 6

“In the old class we had nowhere to keep our bags, but now we have enough shelves for each student to store their books. Our blackboard is bigger and can hold more work compared to the temporary chalkboard we had before.”
— John Vianney, Primary 6

Teachers are also experiencing a positive change in classroom management:

“Class control was difficult before due to limited space, but now I can easily move around and monitor each learner’s work. The availability of a teacher’s table gives us space for consultations and guidance.”
— Tr. Mellon, Primary 6 Class Teacher

In addition to classrooms, the four other newly completed rooms are now being used for staff meetings, parent meetings, and other administrative and organizational work that requires adequate space.

2. Installation of Two 10,000-Liter Rainwater Harvesting Tanks

In October, two 10,000-liter rainwater harvesting tanks were installed to collect water from the newly roofed primary school building. These tanks have significantly improved water availability and pressure, making daily school operations far more efficient.

Cleaning classrooms, toilets, utensils, and washing nursery bedding is now faster and less labor-intensive.

“During the dry season, we used to struggle to fetch water from the community well where queues were always long. But now we have enough water for the kitchen without long-distance ferrying.”
— Ishmail, Kitchen Staff

Additionally, the tanks have helped control flooding by capturing rainwater that previously flowed into the school compound and kitchen area during the rainy season.

Future Plans

With the first level of our primary school building now complete and actively in use, our next major focus is ensuring safe boarding facilities for our most vulnerable learners.

Our priority for the 2026 school year is to:

• Complete the temporary boarding section, including separate boys’ and girls’ dormitories
  
  
• Construct permanent washrooms and sanitation facilities
  
  
• Ensure a safe, secure, and dignified living environment for students who live far from school or come from unstable home situations
  
  

These dormitories will allow students to remain in a structured learning environment, receive regular meals, benefit from supervised study time, and stay protected from the risks many children face when traveling long distances daily.

Looking further ahead, our long-term campus development plans also include:

• A fully-stocked library and computer lab
  
  
• A multipurpose hall with a permanent school kitchen
  
  
• Permanent dormitories for both boys and girls
• A school bus
  
  
• And the purchase of additional land to serve our growing student body
  
  

Each of these developments will build upon the strong foundation already in place and ensure that every child at Rukundo Preparatory School has access to a safe, holistic, and high-quality learning environment. 

Your continued support through this project helps us take the next critical steps forward.

Success Story: A Student’s Perspective

“My name is Isaiah Treasure, a Primary Six pupil at Rukundo Preparatory School. Last term, we were studying in a very small room meant to be an office. The space was squeezed, and learning was not as comfortable as we wished.

This term, we moved into a new classroom, and I was extremely happy. The room is big, with space to display educational charts, shelves for keeping our books, and a large blackboard that fits all our work.

Our teachers were also excited about the new classrooms. They now have a teacher’s table and chair, something we did not have in the previous class. It is easier for us to take our books for marking, and our teachers have enough room to speak with us one-on-one.

I would like to thank our president for the great work she is doing. Everyone at Rukundo is joyful about the new developments. Our parents are proud and hopeful for the future of their children.”