Paidha, Uganda: Paidha Town Council in Zombo District has launched a phased rollout of classroom furniture to government-aided primary schools, marking a significant step in addressing chronic overcrowding and the widespread problem of floor-sitting in Universal Primary Education (UPE) institutions.
The intervention is aimed at easing long-standing infrastructure gaps worsened by rising enrolment, overstretched classroom space, and limited capitation grants. The first batch of deliveries was made at Mvungu Upper Primary School—one of the biggest schools in the district with over 1,800 learners—where 37 dual-seater desks worth UGX 8 million were handed over.
Other beneficiary schools this financial year include Oturgang Boys and Girls Primary School, Paidha Demonstration Primary School, and Mvungu Lower Primary School, which is also set to receive a five-stance VIP latrine valued at UGX 17.4 million to address sanitation challenges.
Presiding over the handover, Paidha Town Council LCIII Chairperson Innocent Godfred Onega said the initiative aligns with national education sector priorities of improving school environments to enhance teaching and learning.
“Providing appropriate furniture is a critical input in enhancing concentration, attendance, and academic performance. A learner cannot be expected to thrive while sitting on the floor,” Onega said, reaffirming the council’s commitment to supporting all UPE schools through phased deliveries.
Mvungu Upper Primary School headteacher, Mr. Aniku Grisim, welcomed the contribution, saying it complements the school’s internal resource-mobilisation programme, which currently produces only six desks per term.
“This partnership significantly accelerates our transition toward a fully furnished learning environment,” Aniku said.
Mr. Bidongu Okun Andrew, Chairperson of the School Management Committee and PTA, described the support as “a transformative milestone in addressing infrastructural bottlenecks that undermine equity and quality in basic education delivery.”
Education assessments continue to highlight the severity of the gap: according to the Education Policy and Data Center (EPDC/UNESCO, 2019), nearly 60% of primary schools nationwide lack adequate furniture—a deficit that contributes to poor retention and weak learning outcomes.
Onega pledged that the town council will continue prioritising school infrastructure, with the goal of eliminating floor-sitting across all public primary schools in Paidha. He said the council is mobilising resources to ensure each school receives furniture and sanitation support depending on enrolment and urgency.
The rollout marks a renewed commitment by Paidha Town Council to bridge service-delivery gaps at the foundational levels of education, improving classroom conditions for thousands of learners across the town.
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