Empowerment Centre Update – Challenges, Progress and Hope

There has been plenty happening at our Empowerment Centres in Uganda, with both challenges to overcome and determined communities continuing to move forward.

Kashanda – Protecting the School and Its Future

At Kashanda, a recent meeting involving parents and members of the community uncovered a serious concern regarding the management of school funds.

It was reported that approximately 1,300,000 Ugandan shillings in school funds could not be accounted for. The head teacher did not attend the meeting and the parents have decided to take the matter to the appropriate authorities.

The situation has highlighted the importance of having clear and accountable systems for managing the school’s finances. Fortunately, the school chairman, who is also the Vice LC1 Chairperson within the local council, keeps records and is helping the community as they work through the situation.

There will be costs involved in pursuing the matter with the authorities, but the parents are determined to protect the school and ensure that money intended for the children’s education is used for its proper purpose.

Despite these difficulties, the community continues preparing for the school to reopen on 14 September.

Lamunyungu – The Race to Get a Roof On

Meanwhile, work continues on the new classrooms at the Lamunyungu Empowerment Centre.

The building has come a long way, but the next major challenge is getting the roof on and protecting everything that has already been achieved.

The materials currently required are:

80 iron sheets – 2,800,000 UGX
40 kg of roofing nails – 160,000 UGX

This brings the total needed for the roofing materials to 2,960,000 UGX – approximately £580.

Generous has managed to find considerably better prices for the materials. At the previous prices, the roofing would have cost around 3,745,000 UGX, making the current price an important saving.

There is also some urgency. The engineers have explained that if the roofing frame becomes bent or damaged, it will be difficult to replace. A temporary tarpaulin was considered, but because of the strong winds in the area, anything sufficiently large and strong enough to protect the building would itself be expensive.

Instead, the plan is to begin covering the building gradually from one side as funds and materials become available.

Can You Help Us Get the Roof On?

The new classrooms at Lamunyungu are being created to give the children a safe and suitable environment in which to learn. Getting the roof on is now one of the most important steps towards making that a reality.

We need to raise approximately £580 (2,960,000 UGX) to purchase the iron sheets and roofing nails.

Every donation, large or small, can make a difference. The team doesn’t need to wait until the entire amount has been raised — as money becomes available, they can begin roofing the building one section at a time.

This isn’t simply about buying iron sheets. It’s about putting a roof over a classroom where children will learn, grow and build their futures.

Continuing to Build Together

These latest developments show that creating lasting change involves much more than constructing buildings. It means communities working together, overcoming unexpected problems, protecting the resources entrusted to them and finding practical solutions when money and materials are limited.

Generous continues to coordinate and support the work on the ground and sends her heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and helped the Empowerment Centres come this far.

At Kashanda, the community is standing together to safeguard its school and the resources intended for its children.

At Lamunyungu, every iron sheet brings the children another step closer to having their new classrooms protected and ready for use.

If you can contribute towards the £580 needed for the Lamunyungu roof, every donation will help us get another part of that roof on.

Together, we can help build something that will serve these children and their community for years to come.

See Donate to ECs to find out the many ways to donate to this cause