The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to issue guidelines prohibiting schools from transporting learners on trucks like animals, saying that if the practice is not stopped, tragedies may occur.
She made these remarks on April 18, 2024, after Sarah Opendi, the Woman Member of Parliament for Tororo District, raised a concern that, in spite of the government prohibiting the transportation of learners on trucks, the practice has continued in some schools.
“Children are being transported in trucks like cattle, and you wonder which kind of school this is, and these trucks have ended up getting involved in accidents, and people’s children have lost their lives. I am directing the Ministry of Education to give guidelines concerning the matter,” Speaker Among said.
According to Opendi, the practice of carrying learners on trucks increases during the preparations for athletics and competitions.
“We have an issue happening currently, and I do not want us to see children dying tomorrow, yet we clearly know that the government prohibits the transport of children on trucks. Schools are transporting these children now that they are in sports competitions held at national levels,” Opendi said.
She went ahead to request that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Sports pronounce themselves on this issue to avoid future tragedies.
On the other hand, the Speaker reechoed her request for the Ministry to explain the circumstances under which Ignatius Koomu, the Nakaseke district Local Government Chairman Five (LCV), subjected teachers to seat for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and mock exams, and the Ministry failed to honour their commitment to bring a statement on that effect.
The Speaker’s instruction followed a concern raised by Allan Mayanja, Member of Parliament Nakaseke Central, who requested the speaker that the Ministry of Education explain its delayed response on the matter, since according to Mayanja, the matter was raised in parliament but has never been addressed.
“It explains why Koomu went ahead to release the results of his mock test despite concerns raised in parliament, with the worst-performing teacher getting 27% in mathematics and the best getting 92%,” Mayanja stated.
Following the two accounts of the members of parliament, the speaker directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to act to that effect.
In 2023, a truck carrying 100 learners in Manafwa district overturned, killing one pupil and injuring several children.
In 2000, the government banned trucks and open trucks from transporting pupils and students following an increase in road crashes.
