At exactly 10 am, we began our journey to Bwama Island to establish conditions under which school going children crossed Lake Bunyonyi to access education. While on the boat, we came across a 7-year-old boy alone in the middle of the lake trying to cross on a dug-out canoe going to school. About 400 meters to Bwama Primary School, we also met a group of pupils on one single canoe crossing the Lake. unfortunately, none of them had a life-saving jacket.
On 22nd September, three girls of Bwama Primary School almost drowned in the Lake when the canoe they were traveling in was hit by waves and capsized. They were only saved by their life jackets. This incident instilled fear into parents. Some of those we spoke to said they were forced to stop their children from going to school when the Lake became rough or when it rained. Because they don’t have life jackets and at the same time, the canoes are not up to standard. This has greatly affected the school enrollment. According to both the head teachers of Bwama Primary and Secondary Schools, when the Lake becomes rough or when it rains, there won’t be lessons at school. “And out of four, one did not know how to swim. So by the time we rescued them, one was almost getting tired. They almost spent about 20 to 30 minutes in water.” “P.1 and P.2 here they have got hit way in enrolment because parents do not want to risk their children on the Lake.”
In an effort to save the situation, three Humanitarian Agencies including African Tourism Club, Harris International and Global Livingstone Institute donated to Bwama Primary School 244 life jackets and a motorized boat worth 30 million shillings. “The budget was 500 life jackets, we now have like 50%, we wanted three-engine boats, our dream was just a 30-seater, and we now have a bigger boat.” Said, Belinda Doreen – African Tourism Club. Parents and teachers welcomed the donation saying this would save lives of their children as well as improving the school’s enrollment. “We hope there will be an improvement in time management because time management has been a problem in this school. Due to the fact that children had to cross and cross the Lake.” Each parent was however asked to reserve 2,000 each term to buy fuel to run this boat.
