Ugandan School Shut Down as Students Relocate to Kenya Over Mining Resettlement

Summary:

• Alupe Primary in Uganda closed due to low enrollment; only two students found during inspection. Families relocated after Chinese gold mining; majority enroll children in schools in Kenya.

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Alupe Primary, situated in Buteba sub-county, Uganda, faced closure as a consequence of dwindling student numbers, prompting authorities to disperse its enrollees to various schools in neighboring Kenya.

Phillipine Adengero, the school’s headmistress, revealed to the Examiner that during a routine inspection by district officials, only two students were found attending classes, alongside five teachers. This dire situation led the authorities to swiftly decree the school’s closure.

Ms. Adengero further explained that the root cause of the plummeting enrollment can be traced to a Chinese gold mining venture in the vicinity. The ensuing compensation and resettlement offered to affected families resulted in a significant exodus, with many opting to enroll their children in schools across the border in Busia, Kenya, citing convenience.

Consequently, the two remaining students are slated for transfer to a nearby Kenyan institution.

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