search
×
menu
login
donate
Luzira School
Kampala, Uganda
follow
share on:mail linkcopy link to clipboardShare via LinkedInShare via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Facebook
Primary School Luzira School in Uganda

image: © all rights reserved
i
Category:
education
Phase:
in use
Updated:
30 March 2014
introduction

The Luzira Church of Uganda Primary School is located in Luzira, a neighborhood of Uganda’s capital city Kampala. Close to Port Bell, 24 teachers educate about 950 boys and girls in only twelve classrooms. In 2008, a Dutch couple showed a compasion for the school. Ever since they are using their capabilities to improve the quality of the school’s properties. In collaboration with the teachers and the local craftsmen the aim is to provide for better education facilities for both the pupils and the teachers.

In 2007 the improvements started on basis of a project plan, written by the former head teacher of the school. She explained that since the introduction of the so-called Universal Primary Education (UPE) act in 1997 no significant developments had taken place. The UPE act intended to provide “full tuition to 4 children per household” (OSSREA; see links). Although in Uganda the gross enrollment increased due to the UPE, primary education was not made compulsory “nor entirely free, since parents were still expected to pay fees, and contribute pens, exercise books and clothing” (ODI; see links). The Luzira Church of Uganda Primary School could not benefit from the UPE and was in need of external aid.

In the project plan the head teacher requested for assistance to improve on the school’s fence, repainting, repair and purchase of more pupil’s furniture since a part of the kids had to sit on the ground. Furthermore, they were longing for extra classrooms and improvements of the staff houses which were situated on the school’s premises, belonging to the nearby located Church of Uganda.

The ‘Luzira school Uganda project’ is a great example of private development aid as no large or professional organizations are involved. Those who add their funds – small or large – to the Dutch Luzira school Uganda foundation are assured that their money is invested for 100% in the project.

Furthermore, one of the principles the foundation (which is run only by the Dutch couple) employs is prior to investment discussing with the teachers what is needed for the school. The teachers know exactly which developments are necessary and besides they have the knowledge where to buy the materials and to hire the craftsmen.

Currently the foundation and some of the teachers are working on three sub-projects. A proposal is requested from those teachers who are individually responsible for a plan with respect to education equipment (books), sanitary facilities (the toilets) and the staff housing. This approach empowers them to think about what is really necessary as the available budget is limited; they are stimulated to think about the details of their plan. And as a result of their involvement the risk is reduced to ensure investments are made without local techniques and knowledge.

Besides the actual developments, in total about 40 children are sponsored by people in the Netherlands. The sponsor pays the yearly school fee and has the option to pay for extra lessons. In return the school’s secretary sends the children’s report on a regularly basis via e-mail.

Luzira Primary School in Uganda

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
"When you educate a girl you educate a nation"

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
cultural and social context

The Luzira Church of Uganda Primary School was established in 1940. It is founded by the Church of Uganda that is located on the plot next to the school. In the School Management Committee several church members have a seat. The church’ reverend is in close contact with the head teacher.

The church and the school are located in Luzira which is a neighborhood with casual workers that on average have low salaries. As a consequence, parents cannot pay the stipulated school fees as set by the government.

The Luzira neighborhood is closely located to Port Bell at Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest fresh water lake. The lakeside is ideal for mosquitos which makes Luzira less popular for those who can afford properties closer to the city center that is higher up the hills. Nevertheless Luzira is developing into a suburb: market vendors and craftsmen are doing business everywhere, but ‘real’ shops with relatively expensive products appear as well. You can have proper dinner (chips, chicken & tomatoes) and there are several ATM machines.

Only half of the teachers lives in Luzira, of which about 8 of them live in the staff houses at the school’s premises. Some of them have their homes at the other side of Kampala and as a result they have to travel in traffic jam in Africa’s well-known taxi buses.

Port Bell area in Luzira (Lake Victoria)

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
Developed housing in Luzira

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
materials and building techniques

Despite there is no ‘spectacular’ architecture in this project it is worth to know the local techniques and materials.

The school buildings are made of bricks and clay. The walls are finished with plaster that is painted in lively white and pink colors. The roof structures are made from timber and are thatched with iron sheets. There is no intermediate layer or ceiling which results in a cooler climate in the classes as the wind blows in through small openings higher up the walls.

Rainwater is collected with rain pipes connected to water tanks that can be filled up to 4000 liters. The children drink the water, the cooks tap it for boiling rice and anybody can use it to wash hands after going to the loo.

Around the buildings is a veranda of concrete constructed in order to prevent the walls from being eroded by the water as rainfall can be very heavy. The classroom windows can be covered with wooden shutters and iron bars prevending children from peeping in and out. Due to overdue maintenance of the roofs rain drips in as a result of leakage of the iron sheets. Although buckets are placed to capture the water, it is hard for the pupils and teachers to concentrate.

A part of all project plans is that techniques are local, which means that only Ugandan craftsmen are hired. The head teacher or the deputy head teachers who live at the church’ premises know those workers for their reputation. They advise the Dutch foundation on who to hire.

St. Francis Private School (visit)

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
earth and climate

Uganda is located at the equator and most of the country is characterised by a tropical climate. Due to rainfall and the city’s altitude the climate in Kampala is pleasant: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius during day time. Rainy seasons are from March to May and in November and from the direction of Lake Victoria heavy thunders can enter Kampala.

In times of (heavy) rain the water tanks of the school are filled up whereas during dry seasons the tanks are going empty. If so the tap on the central square is opened. Consequently water bills are high(er).

During rainy seasons the little garden blooms but during dry season the dust and sand is everywhere as the garden is not watered.

image gallery
Fully packed but they're eager to learn

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
Baby school & nursery

image: Janneke Roosjen | © all rights reserved
i
Windows of Luzira School

image: © all rights reserved
i
Location
show earth plate boundarieshide earth plate boundaries
Explore more inspirations
Keyword:
education (83)
community practice (113)
prev
  •  education
    Obispo Anaya School
    Cochabamba, Bolivia
  •  education
    Preparatory Academy Energy Lab
    Kamuela, Hawaii, U.S.A.
  •  education
    Primary school Al Jabal
    Al Jabal, Palestinian Territories
  •  housing
    Home Modification for Urban Slums in Hong Kong
    Hong Kong
  • play
     urban planning
    EXTRAMUROS Año Nuevo
    Lima, Peru
  •  education
    Plug+Play School
    Izmir + Torbali, Turkey
  •  education
    Primary School Gangouroubouro
    Gangouroubouro, Mali
  •  education
    Bethel Secondary School
    Gourcy, Burkina Faso
  • play
     education
    "Vuelta del Paraguayo" School for adults.
    Santa Fe, Argentina
  •  education
    School by the Lagoon
    Maligakadu, Sri Lanka
  •  health & sanitation
    Hygiene Station for Cattlefield Village School
    Yunnan, China
  •  education
    FAVA School for Individuals with Autism
    Caracas, Venezuela
  •  education
    School Ghama
    Ghama, Mali
  • play
     education
    Tent Classroom
    kharameh, Iran
  •  education
    Training Center for Mae Tao Clinic
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  urban planning
    A Corridor for People
    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  •  education
    Hostels for girls, Iringa region, Tanzania
    Iringa region, Tanzania
  •  education
    Primary school in Ramadin Al Janub
    Ramadin Al Janub, Palestinian Territories
  •  education
    Playgrounds for Refugees as emergency response
    Bar Elias, Lebanon
  •  education
    Thnouh School
    Takeo, Cambodia
  •  meeting place
    Palomino Border
    Palomino, Guajira, Colombia
  •  education
    Bamboo Panyaden School
    Chiang Mai, Thailand
  •  education
    Impact Pavilion Ibadan: Connect, Learn, Thrive
    Alaka Community, Ojoo, Ibadan, Nigeria
  •  meeting place
    Socio-Cultural Center
    Bobodioulasso , Burkina Faso
  •  education
    Community Learning Centre in Pasman Tol
    Pasman Tol, Nepal
  •  education
    Majuli School / GENERATING RESILIENCE
    majuli, India
  •  education
    Qinmo Village Project
    Huaiji, Guangdong Province, China
  •  education
    Deyalkotha
    Dhaka, Bangladesh
  •  work & business
    Beehive Technology and Enterprise Park
    Chilomoni, Blantyre, Malawi
  •  education
    Muping Village School
    Guizhou, China
  • play
     health & sanitation
    KINATCO Community Centre Project : PHASE II
    Mathare 3A Slums, Nairobi, Kenya
  •  education
    Kwel Ka Baung school- phase II
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  education
    A school for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, once was a pavilion in an International expo in Italy.
    Al-Marj, Bekaa, Lebanon
  •  meeting place
    Kariakoo Market
    Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  •  education
    Wadi Abu Hindi Playground
    Wadi Abu Hindi Bedouin camp, Palestinian Territories
  • GC2021 finalist
     education
    A School Built By the People, For The People
    Jorhat, India
  •  education
    Zero Energy School
    Saint-Ouen, France
  •  meeting place
    Iche_Food for thought: a hub for glocal innovation
    San Vicente, Ecuador
  •  education
    Safe Haven Library
    Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
  •  education
    MOVING school 003
    Mae Sot, Thailand
  •  education
    El jardin de Adele
    Encañada, Peru
  •  education
    Silindokulhe Community Hall
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
  • play
     education
    Hilltop School
    Hyderabad, India
  •  education
    Quarter Library in Katì Cokò
    Bamako, Mali
  •  education
    Primary School Tanouan Ibi
    Tanouan Ibi, Mali
  •  education
    Primary School Balaguina
    Balaguina, Mali
  •  education
    Canteiro Móvel | Mobile Hands-on
    Botucatu, Brazil
  •  education
    technical school Mopti Sevare
    Mopti Sevarre, Mali
  •  education
    Colegio de las Aguas Montebello
    Cali - Montebello, Colombia
  • play
     meeting place
    StadtGoesFuture-Culthäusle
    Filderstadt-Plattenhardt, Germany
  •  education
    Hwange Technical College
    Hwange, Zimbabwe
  • play
    GC2022 finalist
     education
    Book House
    China
  •  education
    Jubilant Tree School
    Moshi, Tanzania
  •  education
    SAL Exhibition Pavilion/Learning by Making
    Ahmedabad, India
  •  housing
    Colón 36
    Castuera, Spain
  •  education
    Gen Educational Farm
    Antofagasta, Chile
  •  education
    Senior Citizen’s Library
    Bhatpore Village Surat, India
  •  meeting place
    Centro de Acçao Social por Música
    São Paulo, Brazil
  •  meeting place
    “Sorbole” - Urban garden’s equipment
    Seville, Spain
  • play
     education
    SSPD Slum School
    Lahore , Pakistan
  •  education
    Initiative Rising Star - school buildings for Hopley, Zimbabwe
    Harare, Zimbabwe
  •  education
    PLAYSCAPE
    Koh Rong Island, Cambodia
  •  meeting place
    Meeting space for urban pedagogy
    La Habana, Cuba
  •  education
    LA VIEJA
    Montebello, Cali, Colombia
  •  meeting place
    Casa De La Cultura, Arte y Paz, Jacobo Arenas
    San José del Guaviare, Colombia
  •  education
    Siddhartha Primary School
    Bimire village, Nepal
  •  education
    Wadi Abu Hindi Primary School
    Wadi Abu Hindi Bedouin camp, Palestinian Territories
  •  housing
    Casalata
    Mindelo, Cape Verde
  •  education
    Ithuba Community College
    Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa
  •  education
    MOVING school 002
    Mae Ramat, Thailand
  •  education
    Bamboo Manta Ray
    Koh Kood, Thailand
  •  education
    Bamboo Kindergarten
    Tasikmalaya, Indonesia
  •  education
    Transforming Learning Spaces in Rwanda
    Muhanga, Rwanda
  •  education
    Play-doh : Early years education in rural India
    Bhiwandi, India
  •  education
    P.S. 216 Edible Schoolyard
    New York , U.S.A.
  •  meeting place
    Custody House Of Memory
    Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
  • play
    GC2022 finalist
     education
    KAKR BULUH AWAR
    Deli Serdang, Indonesia
  •  education
    Motherwell Community and Enviro Hub
    Gqeberha, South Africa
  • GC2022 finalist
     housing
    KuNa, Construyendo Sueños
    El Astillero, Tola, Nicaragua
  •  education
    New Classrooms at Al Khan Al Ahmar Primary School
    Al Khan Al Ahmar Bedouin Camp, Palestinian Territories
  •  education
    EDAYA indigenous crafts and design school
    Baguio, Philippines
  •  health & sanitation
    Konokono Vaccination Center
    Turkana, Kenya
  • play
     education
    The House of Biomaterials
    Rishikesh, India
next