BY DENIS KASULE: Kiyunga Islamic Primary School in Mukono District has received a Shs112 million boost from National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to renovate one of the school’s old and condemned buildings. The donation was handed over on Thursday as part of NSSF’s countrywide community support program marking the Fund’s 40th anniversary. The money comes under the initiative known as “NSSF 40 Good Deeds,” which focuses on improving conditions in schools, health centers, and other public facilities across the country.
NSSF Deputy Managing Director, Gerald Kasaato, said the Fund chose Kiyunga Islamic as one of the first beneficiaries because of the urgent need for a safer and more supportive learning environment for children. “This year marks 40 years of NSSF. As we celebrate, we also want to support the communities where our members live,” he said. “We are contributing Shs112 million for renovations so that learners can study in a better environment. Kasaato added that NSSF will be supporting 40 community projects across Uganda, including renovating public schools in all five regions and donating medical equipment to health facilities. He said the Fund’s aim is to make positive and lasting contributions to communities, in line with its long-term vision.
Kiyunga Islamic Primary School, like many rural schools, struggles with limited classrooms and old infrastructure. One of its buildings has been declared unsafe by district engineers, leaving learners cramped in the remaining available spaces.
School leaders said the donation brings hope to a community that has struggled for years to improve facilities without enough resources.
The head teacher and school management expressed gratitude to NSSF for stepping in at a time when the school needed urgent support. Mukono Resident District Commissioner, Hajat Fatuma Ndisaba, thanked NSSF for selecting Kiyunga Islamic but warned that long procurement procedures often reduce the value of such donations.
She said the process is sometimes costly and slow, making it difficult for districts to complete projects on time or at reasonable cost. “For a brick that costs Shs300 on the local market, the same item can cost much more in government projects,” she said. “By the time procurement is completed, a big part of the money is already consumed.”
She added that the condemned building needs urgent attention and asked NSSF to consider supporting the construction of new classrooms or staff quarters in the future. According to her, teachers at the school struggle with limited accommodation, which affects their comfort and performance. “When teachers live in poor conditions, it affects their work. We hope NSSF can consider supporting us further,” she said.
Mukono District Education Officer (DEO), Kikameko Rashid, also thanked NSSF for the donation and acknowledged that procurement takes time, but he assured the public that all stakeholders, including the district engineer, Chief Administrative Officer, school management, and NSSF, would work closely to ensure the renovation is completed.
“Our procurement process is lengthy, but we shall speed up discussions and approvals so that the school benefits from this donation within the available time,” he said. He described NSSF as a reliable partner that has supported educational projects in Mukono before and said the district is committed to making sure the funds are used well.
In response to the procurement concerns, the NSSF deputy managing director said the Fund faces similar challenges as a government entity. He suggested working with local leaders to seek adjustments for community projects so they can be implemented faster and more efficiently.
“We understand the challenges mentioned by the RDC because we face the same ones,” he said. “Perhaps, together, we can engage the authorities to see if there can be exceptions for urgent community work.” Despite these concerns, the day’s event ended on a positive note, with community members hopeful that the renovation will give learners a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable space.
As NSSF continues its 40 Good Deeds activities across the country, the Mukono community hopes that the renovation of Chiyunga Islamic will be completed quickly and set an example of how partnerships can improve education for Ugandan children.