Good Samaritans in the Ugandan virtual space are doing it again!
These days, there’s little that can’t be done via the instant messaging app, Whatsapp. Across Uganda, the app is being utilized in countless ways and for a multitude of reasons. From neighborhood watch, to sharing coursework and exams dates, to keep up with trends and so much more. You can now even use it to receive news updates direct to your phone, ahem.
There’s little that can’t be achieved through the ingenuity of Whatsapp.
Now, Ugandans from Busoga (home and in the diaspora), are using the popular app to fundraise for UGX10M to buy textbooks for 10 primary schools in rural Busoga with the aim of contributing to improved academic performance.
Done! 7 books for #BuyABookForBusoga! 10 in total! Who’s taking the challenge next?💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/9Fe4vnX4uP
— Florence Naluyimba BLONDEL (@Floramujaasi) February 26, 2018
“We were taken aback by the poor performance of Busoga schools in the just released Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results. We know books are not the only cause for the failure but they are part of the problem.” Isaac Midas Imaka, one of the champions of the campaign explains.
Isaac and the members of the Busoga Think Tank WhatsApp Group looked for what among the many problems in Busoga they can talk as a low hanging fruits and how, and that’s when the group chose education and in particular buying books.
The group is using the hashtag #BuyABookForBusoga on social media to spread the message for other interested good Samaritans to contribute to this campaign. Some Samaritans in the diaspora have already picked up on the campaign.
#BuyAbookForBusoga is an Initiative to collect shs10M and buy text books for 10 primary schools in rural Busoga with the aim of contributing to improved academic performance. Be part of the change we all want to see by sending shs20K to 0772668626/0702681058 (Sarah Bawaye). pic.twitter.com/rLK1W1paPc
— Tel (@HiRolla1) February 23, 2018
The state of education in Busoga
Busoga sub-region is home to some of the top traditional schools like Mwiri Primary School, Busoga College Mwiri, Wanyange Girls School, Kiira College Butiki to mention but a few.
However, much as some of these traditional schools (majorly secondary schools) continue shining on the national level, primary schools in the region remain lagging way behind compared to their counterparts across the country.
For example, an analysis of the 2016 Primary Leaving Examination results reported by Daily Monitor on January 17, 2017, it was stated that primary schools in six of the 10 districts in Busoga sub-region apart from Jinja District, failed miserably. The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) results released that year, indicated that Namutumba, Iganga, Kaliro, Mayuge, Luuka and Buyende districts were among the worst performing districts in the entire country, with majority of candidates failing flat.
#BuyABookForBusoga is a WhatsApp group initiative to help improve the reading and general academic performance of rural schools in Busoga. Be part of the campaign by sending only 20K to the numbers below. pic.twitter.com/Y48Q4jryze
— Isaac Midas Imaka (@IsaacImaka) February 23, 2018
Isaac and the members of the group are focusing on the ten schools that performed worst in Busoga in the just concluded PLE and the campaign will last for a period of three (3) weeks. It is expected to raise UGX 10Million to buy the textbooks.
“Just send 20,000 Uganda Shillings to the numbers 0772668626/0702681058 registered in the names of Sarah Bawaye and spread the campaign by sharing with friends on social media.” Isaac explains.
By the time of writing this article, the campaign had collected about 700,000 Uganda shillings in two days with many people in the diaspora pledging support the campaign that will run for the next 3 weeks.
