Bukedea siblings blocked from going to Saudi Arabia for ‘Kyeyo’ to look for A’level fees

Bukedea, (UG):- Two siblings from Kasera Village, Kamutur Sub-county in Bukedea District are desperately seeking financial assistance to continue their education in Senior Five and pursue science courses after their latest move to fly to Saudi Arabia for Kyeyo was blocked prematurely.

The two sisters, Esther Patience Adeke and Faith Juliet Ajulong, sat Senior Four last year at Hill Vie College and Pallisa Community SS respectively and are hopeful to pursue science subjects at A’level to turn their dreams of becoming scientists into a reality.

Adeke, who studied at Hill View College Bulangira in Kibuku District, scored 2As in Agriculture and Biology, 4Bs in Geography, CRE, Physics, and Chemistry, and 3Cs in Mathematics, English, and History, as well as an A in Project Work.

However, financial difficulties prevented her from achieving higher grades. She blames the inconsistent payment of school fees, which often led to her reporting late and missing lessons.

Adeke further expressed frustration that her parents have blocked her and her sister from travelling to the Middle East for work to raise money for their education.

“There is a company willing to process our passports and visas, and we would pay them after we start working. Unfortunately, our parents are against it, yet this is our best chance to fund our education. I dream of pursuing veterinary medicine, a field many girls avoid, to prove that women can excel in male-dominated professions,” Adeke said in a mixed mood.

Similarly, Ajulong, who studied at Pallisa Community SS, scored 7Bs in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, CRE, Physics, and CST, with 2Cs in English and History. She shares her sister’s struggle, lamenting that their efforts to find a way forward have been futile.

Ajulong, who aspired to pursue PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) to specialize in Viral Epidemiology, admires the work of Dr. Monica Musenero, Uganda’s Minister of Science and Technology Innovation. However, her dreams are now at risk since the parents do not want them to leave for Saudi Arabia for work.

“Our parents won’t allow us to travel to Saudi Arabia to work for just one year, even though they cannot afford to pay our fees. We planned to return after the contract and continue with our studies, but now we are stuck,” she said.

“We recently applied for national IDs, but they have withheld them to prevent us from processing travel documents. It’s painful, but we cannot go against their wishes,” Ajulong added.

The duo’s situation is further compounded by their elder sister, Doreen Alupo, who has failed to complete her Certificate in Pharmacy at International Paramedics Institute Maya, as well as another sister who completed her Nursing Course at Alice Anume School of Nursing and Midwifery but has been unable to obtain her results due to outstanding fees.

Their father, a primary school teacher, struggles with multiple loans and health issues, making it impossible for him to provide financial support. The mother, Joyce Akello, acknowledged the financial struggles, expressing concern over the negative attitude towards educating girls in their community.

“God blessed me with six daughters, but we are unable to afford their education. Many people do not see the value of investing in girls’ education,” she said.

Akello revealed that Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, the Bukedea District Woman MP, assisted in paying Alupo’s tuition for one semester in 2023. However, Alupo has since been forced to apply for dead semesters due to a lack of fees.

Ms Akello, however, firmly opposed her daughters’ plans to work abroad, citing the harsh conditions some domestic workers face in the Middle East. “It is rumoured that housemaids in Saudi Arabia earn UGX 900,000, but given the hardships many go through, I have withheld their national IDs and cautioned local leaders not to introduce them to any labor-exporting companies,” she said.

The siblings’ aunt, Ms Acam Hellen Rose, who had been supporting Ajulong, is also overwhelmed with financial responsibilities, but their grandfather, Rev. Henry Samuel Eminem of Pentecostal Revival Ministries, has taken it upon himself to counsel and pray for divine intervention.

“The Bible calls upon us to help those in need. Proverbs 19:17 says, ‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.’ Deuteronomy 15:11 also reminds us to be openhanded toward the poor and needy in our land,” he said.