Butaleja Learners Miss Classes as Rumours and Ebola Lockdown Fears Disrupt Attendance.

By Ambrose Wanagoli

Fear and misinformation surrounding a possible Ebola-related lockdown have reportedly affected school attendance in Butaleja District, with a number of parents opting to keep their children at home amid speculation circulating on social media.

An assessment conducted on Thursday at several schools, including Budumba Centre View, Molt Nursery and Primary School, Waguma Memorial School, Budusu Primary School, and Mpologoma Primary School, revealed low learner turnout despite schools being in the second week of the new academic term.

Headteachers expressed concern over the poor attendance, attributing it partly to reports that some parents had been misled by information shared on TikTok claiming that the President would suspend education activities on Friday, June 5, to assess the severity of the Ebola outbreak in the country.

According to school administrators, some parents openly admitted that they preferred not to pay school fees for fear that schools would soon be closed.

The school heads said the situation had placed private schools under immense financial strain, with many institutions struggling to meet operational costs and staff salaries.

“We are surviving on loans and other temporary arrangements to keep schools running,” one headteacher noted, adding that schools continue to issue receipts as a guarantee of accountability to parents.

Meanwhile, several government-aided schools raised concerns over delays in the release of Universal Primary Education (UPE) grants and salary payments.

School administrators argued that the delays have hampered efforts to procure essential items such as temperature screening guns, hand sanitisers, and other materials required to implement standard operating procedures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola

Education stakeholders also highlighted another persistent challenge affecting learning in the district. Across Butaleja, a significant number of learners continue to miss classes to engage in agricultural work, often with the support of their parents as households struggle to meet basic survival needs.

During the first week of the term, several schools reportedly recorded extremely low attendance, creating the impression that the school holiday had been extended.

Education officials and school leaders have called on parents to prioritize their children’s education and rely on information from official government sources regarding public health matters, warning that misinformation could further disrupt learning in the district