Joy for visually impaired pupils after Monitor story

It was all smiles over the weekend as Misanvu Demonstration School received new water harvesting tanks following this publication's story.

Jubilant pupils and teachers danced as a truck carrying two water tanks parked in the school compound.

The 10,000-litre tanks were donated by state minister for water Aisha Ssekindi after Monitor’s story which last week highlighted challenges visually impaired pupils at the school go through to access water for domestic use.

In the story which ran on November 7, pupils complained that “despite their condition, they usually walk over 3km to fetch water at Kabukolwa spring well since the three rainwater harvesting tanks at the school got damaged.”

Mr Fred Mugabi, the school head teacher, applauded Ms Ssekindi for responding positively towards their plight.

“We usually need a lot of water to wash their clothes, clean where they sleep and cook food for them.  We shall use the tanks to harvest enough water,” Mr Mugabi said.

The school has a population of 679 pupils of which 57 have physical disabilities. Of the 57 learners with disabilities, 27 are visually impaired.

Mr Jimmy Kiranda, a teacher at the school, said other pupils at the school usually fetch water for use without assisting their colleagues with special needs.

“With these new tanks, we are now assured that water will now be available for pupils with special needs, we are grateful to the minister for fulfilling her promise,” he noted.  

In her message, Ms Ssekindi asked the school management to utilise the tanks well and pledged extended support to the school.

“I got so touched during the district‘s teachers Day celebrations when the school administration told me that they take visually impaired pupils to the well to fetch water. When I went back I had to look for some money to fix that problem of lack of water harvesting tanks and I pray that they are put to good use,” she remarked at the weekend.