Students in Bududa district who lost their parents and guardians and got displaced by the mudslides have appealed for financial assistance because their education now hangs in balance.
At least 71 students of Bulucheke secondary school lost a guardian/parent or got displaced in the October 11 mudslide that killed an estimated 60 people in Bukalasi sub-county when river Suume burst its banks and swept several villages.
At least 120 of the 1,200 students at Bulucheke secondary school are from Bukalasi sub-county and trek a distance of about 5km everyday from Bukalasi sub county to Bulucheke secondary school for studies.
Bernard Namulengo, a senior three student from Buwashi Lower village in Buwali sub-county, says he lost his father, Stephen Kutosi, an onions dealer in the mudslides. According to Namulengo, he is going through hard times following the death of his father.
"The life I am going through now is hard because I lack basic needs," he said. He appeals to good Samaritans to intervene and support his education because he has nowhere to turn for help. Joan Naluboka, another student from Buwashi East village, says she lost her father, Apollo Wanzusi, a banana dealer.
Naluboka says she is helpless since her mother is unable to provide for her education like her father was doing.
"I ask government to lend a hand to clear my school dues," she said. She also decried lack of basic needs like soap, sugar and smearing oil.
Silver Matanda, the head teacher Bulucheke secondary school, says they have so far registered 71 students affected by the disaster. According to Matanda, they are still compiling the names of the affected students to establish their numbers before forwarding the matter to the district.
He asks government to support the affected students, saying they have no one to turn to for help. Wilson Watira, the Bududa district LC V chairperson advised the students to return to their villages and get verification from the village chairpersons so as to be included on the list of the mudslide victims for support from government.