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LCD Works in 4 districts in Uganda: Masindi, Buliisa, Katakwi and Kamwenge. Each presents a unique context and a unique set of challenges. |
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District
Masindi
Buliisa
Katakwi
Kamwenge
Total
Number of Schools
204
26
72
60
362
Total Pupils
103,886
16,339
35,406
25,311
180,942
Total Boys
53,239
8,647
18,215
12,843
92,944
Total Girls
50,647
7,692
17,191
12,467
87,997
Total Teachers
2,063
220
685
543
3,511
Total Male Teacher
1,232
176
519
397
2,324
Total Female Teachers
833
44
166
146
1,189
Masindi District
Masindi District is located in the Western part of Uganda, approximately 169km north-west of the capital Kampala. The population is about half a million people. The main language is Runyoro, though several other languages are spoken, because the district has a high percentage of internally displaced persons who fled the conflict in the north. Around 95% of the population are defined as rural and make a living from agricultural activities, in particular subsistence farming. LCD works with 204 primary schools in the Masindi district. Since Universal Primary Education (UPE) was introduced in Uganda in 1997, enrolment rates have increased dramatically leaving schools struggling to cope with large class sizes. The project office is based in Masindi Town.
Buliisa District
Buliisa is a rural district and is one of the new districts that were created in July 2006. It was carved out of Masindi District, and is located roughly 100km from Masindi. It is a small district with about 70,000 inhabitants and just 31 schools. The school population numbers about 16,000 pupils. The large scale activity in Buliisa District is fishing and subsistence farming. They mainly speak the Lugungu, Luo and Runyoro langauges. The district headquarters are located in Buliisa Town.
Kamwenge District
Kamwenge District is situated in the western part of Uganda. It became a district in November 2000. The district receives a well distributed average rainfall of 1200mm throughout the year. The temperatures range between 20 -25 degrees Celsius and the altitude ranges from 1300-3800 meters. The total area is 2303.26 km.The total population is just over a quarter of a million people. The percentage of the population aged between 6 and 12 presently enrolled in school is 79.9%. There are 147 government primary schools and 15 private primary schools, with 10 government secondary schools and 7 private secondary schools. The economy of the district is largely dependant on agriculture and livestock rearing, with some forestry activities as well. The main crops grown are maize, beans, bananas, millet, cassava, groundnuts, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes. Farmers also grow cotton and herd cows and goats.
Katakwi District
Katakwi district, which is located in 380km north-east of Kampala, gained its district status in 1997 through an Act of Parliament. There is a population of around 300,000 of which 48.4% are male and 51.6% are female. There are two rainy seasons around March-June and August-October. The area is characterized as a plateau with gently undulating slopes and is much drier than Masindi and Kampala.The majority of the population is Ateso ethnic and practice subsistence farming using traditional methods of animal traction and the simple hand hoe. Among the major crops grown are cassava, groundnuts, and sorghum. Cattle herding is also very important in the area.
The district has been affected by two vicious conflicts that have caused a great deal of insecurity and displacement. A long-standing violent cattle raiding dispute between the Ateso and Karamjong has meant that certain areas have become depopulated as people move to camps for security. In addition to this, the civil war being fought in the north of the country between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government has at times spread south into the district. LCD is working with 72 primary schools in the Katakwi district. Many of the schools are struggling with low levels of community support for education as well as resources and trained teachers.
