The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked young school girls in Busoga region to ‘avoid taking free gifts or lifts from bodaboda men if they want to complete their studies.’
Kadaga, who was commissioning a Shs98 million girls’ dormitory built by Hima Cement in Luzinga Secondary School, Kamuli district, also added that most girls in schools have been deceived by some men who end up ruining their education and lives
“You should focus on your studies because there are a lot of temptations. As you walk, they will deceive you with chapati and you will think they love you. But just know that one day you will have to pay for his chapati. Others are distracted by bodaboda men who lie to them with lifts. That is why I advise you to refuse such lifts or simple gifts,” the Speaker said on Thursday.
Kadaga praised the leading cement manufacturing company for their involvement in the support of girl child education by building the 160-bed dormitory which will help girls who been moving long distances to sleep at school and get time to read their books.
“I’m very proud of Hima Cement for the tremendous work they have done to ensure that we get a girls’ dormitory here. Many girls walk long distances to reach this place and sometimes they get tired. Some get distracted, people confuse them and they end up getting pregnancies. So when we build such dormitories at schools, we will be saving them from such challenges,” said Kadaga.
Israel Tinkasimire, the Commercial Director, Hima Cement said it’s Hima’s policy to support such initiatives that would develop the communities where they do conduct their businesses.
“We believe in promoting education, health, environment and also employment. So building this girl’s dormitory is part of our education initiative,” Tinkasimire said, who represented the Chief Executive officer Jean-Michel Pons.
“The dormitory was built to facilitate girls to stay at school since most of them walk for about 4-7km from home every day to school which at times is risky because they start moving early in morning. Therefore it’s our great pleasure that through our corporate social responsibility, we funded this dormitory and we hope that we can continue to do the same in many other schools.”
The headmaster of Luziga SSS, Joseph Kasirivu thanked both Kadaga and Hima Cement for the new structure, which he said had come at a time when support for girl child education is needed.
“The student’s enrollment has gradually increased and presently it’s 842 of which 384 girls. Clearly, with decent and magnificent new girls’ dormitory of a bigger capacity we surely believe the number of females in the boarding section is going to increase,” he said.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
