Kyaka FM
Mpara SS students receive bicycles to ease transport to school
26 June 2026, 7:39 pm
By Kyalisiima Asuman
The Cycling out of Poverty Foundation Uganda (Coop-Uganda) in partnership with Enabel a non-governmental organization, have supported 50 day-schooling students at Mpara SS in Mpara town council-Kyegegwa district with bicycles to ease on their transport to school.
Speaking at the official handover to the beneficiaries at the school premises on Wednesday, 24th June, 2026, Hellen Kakungulu the project coordinator revealed that this pilot project only targeted students who trek long distances before reaching the school.
Kakungulu says she is well convinced that the support of bicycles will not only help improve academic excellence, but learners will also do away with other related challenges such as school dropouts which was a result of moving long distances.
Kakungulu added that the two-year project ending next year, is being implemented in four schools in Kyegegwa district; including Mpara SS, Rwentuha SS, Kakabala and Kibuye SS, with each school getting at least 52 bicycles. Of these, 50 are given direct to students, while two remain reserved at the school.
She also emphasized that they are going to continue accessing the performance of students to see whether the bicycles created any impact in regard to academic performance, stressing that the bicycles now remain school properties and will be controlled by school administrators.
Grace Ampaire the education officer in charge of special needs, who represented the District Education Officer Kyegegwa, noted that the initiative was timely as the district is still laboring with low completion late which she says stands at 39% in primary level while around 47% at “O” level, attributing one of the factors of low completion late to students moving longer distances.
She also revealed that Kyegegwa has 19 sub counties, but only 10 have got secondary schools.
Atuhaire Winnie the school head teacher noted that the initiative will improve both performance and attendance of students.
She however roared that they are going to put a school policy to ensure safe and maintenance of the bicycles.
Speaking to our reporter, the delighted students who include Businge Wilson, a S.3 student at Mpara SS, narrated the challenges he has been facing such as setting off home as early as 05:00Pm and reach at school late.
Meanwhile, Sanyu Habibah also a S.1 student recalls the long journey she has been walking while coming to school.
The two and others are now optimistic that they will now be reporting at school on time and have space to organize themselves for morning lesions.