COVID-19, Poverty Widen Education Gap in Uganda

Halima Athumani - Voice of America

KAMPALA — Uganda reopened schools this month after a nearly two-year shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of students have returned, but many others have not, due to poverty and the need to earn income for their families.

Fifteen-year-old Rania Kyomuhangi is one of six children in her family who will not be returning to school.

When schools closed in March 2020 for more than 15 million students, Rania had just reached high school, with a dream to be a medical doctor.

“I feel bad because I see my friends, my neighbors, them calling us, telling us that they are going back to school. Asking us that when are you going back to school, and I don’t know what to say,” said Rania.