Day 1: Low Turnout as Schools Reopen in Obongi district.
Obongi, Uganda – 10 February 2026 – The office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Obongi embarked on a monitoring exercise today, marking the first day of school reopening in the district. Unfortunately, the team was met with dismal attendance figures, with some schools recording as low as 8% turnout.
At Obongi Primary School in Obongi Town Council, only 327 pupils out of over 1,000 enrolled students reported to school. The situation was not much better at Gopele Primary School in Gimara subcounty, where a mere 77 pupils out of 903 enrolled students turned up.
The numbers were even more alarming at Waka Primary School in Itula subcounty, where only 31 pupils attended school. Itula Primary School in the same subcounty recorded a slightly better turnout, with 87 pupils in attendance. Ibakwe Primary School in Palorinya subcounty had 93 pupils, while Alibabito Primary School in Ewafa Subcounty had a paltry 14 pupils.
The monitoring team, led by RDC Obongi Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka and Assistant RDC Komakech Robert, expressed concern over the low turnout. RDC Hashaka warned parents who fail to send their children to school that they risk being arrested.
The low attendance figures have raised concerns about the district’s efforts to improve education outcomes. The RDC’s office has vowed to work with local leaders and stakeholders to address the issue and ensure that all children in the district have access to quality education.
The monitoring exercise is expected to continue in the coming days, with the RDC’s office working to identify the root causes of the low turnout and develop strategies to improve attendance. In the meantime, parents are urged to take their children’s education seriously and ensure that they attend school regularly.
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