Education for All in Namayingo: Bringing Learning to Every Island and Shore — Sandra Egesa’s Plan

Namayingo District is a place of water and resilience: villages and islands scattered along the shores of Lake Victoria where children wake to the sound of lapping waves, families earn their living from the lake, and communities keep traditions alive despite geographic isolation. But beautiful landscapes should not mean limited opportunities. For too many children in Namayingo — especially on the islands — access to quality education is still a daily struggle. Sandra Egesa is running to change that. Her vision is simple and urgent: every child in Namayingo, no matter which island or shoreline they were born on, deserves a safe school, trained teachers, and the tools to learn and build a sustainable future.

The obstacles: why islands fall behind

Island communities face distinctive barriers that keep children out of school or trapped in low-quality learning:

• Physical access: Many island children must travel by boat or long footpaths to reach the nearest school — a journey made dangerous in bad weather and impossible for the youngest learners.
• Teacher shortage and retention: Posting and keeping qualified teachers on islands is difficult because of transportation challenges, housing shortages, and limited facilities.
• Infrastructure gaps: Classrooms, sanitation (WASH), electricity, and learning materials are often missing or inadequate.
• Poverty and opportunity costs: Families dependent on fishing or seasonal work may prioritize short-term income over schooling.
• Gender barriers: Girls are disproportionately affected by distance, household chores, early pregnancy, and lack of menstrual support, reducing their school attendance and completion.
• Relevance of education: Curricula may not address local needs such as sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, or vocational skills that translate to livelihoods on and off the lake.

Sandra Egesa’s practical roadmap: how to make education for all a reality

1. Guarantee safe, reliable transport and island schooling

• Fast-track community boat links and school ferry subsidies: Sandra will work with district government and partners to secure safe, affordable boat transport for pupils and teachers — school schedules prioritized and regulated for safety.
• Establish island primary satellite schools and early-education centers: Where distances are long, small community schools (P1–P3) allow children to begin school close to home. Older children can move to consolidated schools with residential support.
• Build dormitories and safe hostels for older pupils and teachers: Safe, affordable places to stay increase attendance, reduce absenteeism, and make teacher postings more attractive.

2. Bring teachers and training to the islands

• Incentivize island postings: Hardship allowances, housing stipends, and performance-based bonuses will make island service more attractive to teachers.
• Local teacher recruitment and fast-track training: Train community members as teaching assistants and offer pathways to full certification — local hires are likely to stay and understand community needs.
• Ongoing in-service training: Mobile teacher training teams and periodic workshops will strengthen pedagogy, child-centered learning, and inclusive practices.

3. Build resilient, climate-smart school infrastructure

• Solar-powered classrooms and digital hubs: Solar energy provides lighting and powers low-cost devices and radio-based learning.
• Water, sanitation, and gender-sensitive facilities: Clean water, private latrines, and menstrual hygiene supplies are essential to keep girls in school.
• Weatherproof, elevated classrooms where needed: Building designs responsive to floods and seasonal changes will protect learning continuity.

4. Make learning relevant to island life

• Curriculum links to fisheries, aquaculture, and entrepreneurship: Introduce practical modules on sustainable fishing, fish processing, small-business skills, and climate adaptation.
• Vocational pathways and apprenticeships: Partner with traders, cooperatives, and NGOs to create apprenticeships in boat maintenance, cold-chain fish handling, and eco-tourism.

5. Reduce financial barriers and prioritize girls

• School feeding and conditional support: School meals and attendance-linked support help families choose education over short-term income.
• Scholarships and sanitary support for girls: Targeted bursaries, menstrual management programs, and community mentorship reduce dropouts and support girls’ education.

6. Use technology creatively and affordably

• Radio-based lessons and preloaded tablets: When internet is limited, offline learning tools and radio instruction keep children learning consistently.
• Community learning centers: Centers combining local facilitators and periodic remote teaching expand subjects without needing full-time specialists on each island.

7. Mobilize community ownership and local governance

• Strengthen school management committees: Equip parents and leaders to co-manage schools, track attendance, and address local barriers.
• Women’s groups and youth councils: Engage them to promote enrolment, reduce teenage pregnancy, and support girls’ retention.
• Transparent local funding and accountability: Sandra will advocate for accountable budgeting to ensure resources reach island schools.

8. Secure partnerships and sustainable funding

• District, national, and NGO collaboration: Sandra will work with the Ministry of Education, development partners, and private organizations to improve infrastructure and teacher incentives.
• Dedicated island education budget lines: As MP, she will push for special allocations for island schooling, transport, and WASH facilities.

What success looks like

Within a few years, Sandra’s plan will result in safer transport, more classrooms, better-trained teachers, and increased enrolment across Namayingo’s islands. Girls will stay in school longer, learning outcomes will rise, and more children will graduate with skills that support modern fishing, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.

Join us

Education for Namayingo’s islands is possible — but it requires political will, community involvement, and strategic investment. Sandra Egesa brings all three: deep roots in lakeside communities, a practical development-focused vision, and a commitment to ensuring that every child has a fair chance.

Join Sandra’s movement. Support the campaign. Advocate for education for all.
Together, we can turn the vast waters of Lake Victoria from a barrier into a bridge — leading every child toward opportunity.