By Elijah Khisa
The headteacher of St Martin Mulago Primary School in Kawempe Division, John Lwanga, has appealed to former students, government, development partners and well-wishers to support the school’s infrastructure development efforts to provide learners with a conducive environment for quality education.
Lwanga made the appeal on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as the school commenced the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), with a total of 92 candidates registered, comprising 40 boys and 52 girls.
He thanked the government and the Catholic Church for their continued technical and logistical support, which he said had contributed to the improvement of learners’ academic performance.
Lwanga also commended the school’s old boys and girls association for its continued efforts in supporting infrastructure development, particularly the construction of a perimeter fence, which is currently 50 per cent complete.
He said the school still requires additional resources to complete the project and strengthen security within the school premises.
According to Lwanga, the school currently has an enrolment of 1,222 pupils, comprising 540 boys and 682 girls, supported by a teaching staff of 30.
However, he identified pupil absenteeism as one of the major challenges affecting effective classroom learning, blaming the problem partly on parents who do not give sufficient attention to their children’s education.
“Some of our parents do not understand their responsibility in supporting their children’s education, while others fail to provide even the basic requirements needed by their children,” Lwanga said.
He revealed that five candidates who reported for their examinations on Tuesday lacked geometry sets, forcing the school to step in and provide the essential examination materials to enable them to sit their papers.
The headteacher also raised concerns over the high cost of water and electricity, saying that despite government support through grants, the school’s large pupil population makes it difficult to meet its operational needs.
Lwanga further appreciated the leadership of Kampala Archdiocese, particularly the parish priest of Mulago Catholic Parish, Fr. OkwoiRwoth Angelo, together with the clergy and Christian community, for their continued support during the school’s challenging moments.
He said the contribution of the Church and the wider Christian fraternity had played an important role in sustaining the school’s operations and development.
Lwanga also called upon parents to enrol more children at the school next year, saying the institution has the technical capacity and personnel to provide quality, holistic education to Ugandan children.
