BUVUMA, Uganda – Children in Bugabo Village, Buvuma Island, walk miles before dawn to reach class. At Praise Primary School, many arrive with empty hands, no books, pens, or uniforms to match their ambition.
That changed this week when Ronald Kalema led a donation drive to the school.
Kalema, former Mayor of Katabi Town Council and now a new member of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), spearheaded the intervention through his Basamulaekere Foundation. Partnering with James Mukalazi, Kalema crossed Lake Victoria’s tough waters to reach Bugabo, bringing textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils and other learning aids.
“Seeing the long walks these children endure, and the resource gaps they face, touched our hearts,” Kalema said. “As a new member of PLU, restoring hope in underserved areas like Bugabo Village is at the core of our mission. Education is the foundation for any community’s progress.”
The donation reflects PLU’s growing focus on rural education as part of its patriotic development agenda. For Kalema, who served Katabi Town Council before joining PLU, the mission is personal: taking services to places government programs often miss.
Praise Primary School exists because of another local champion, Rita Namutebi. The Bugabo resident founded the school after watching girls drop out due to early pregnancies, and all children struggle without scholastic support.
“I saw children eager to learn but lacking the basic tools,” Namutebi said. “Girls were vulnerable to early pregnancies that cut education short. Praise Primary was born to change that story to provide education, hope and protection.”
Bugabo LC1 Chairperson Katooke Sadat hailed Kalema’s gesture as “timely.” He said the PLU-backed donation will cut dropout rates and encourage more girls to stay in school. Pupils lit up classrooms with smiles as they received new books and vowed to study harder.
Kalema emphasised the work isn’t done. Transport, more classrooms, and programs to curb teenage pregnancies are still urgent on Buvuma Island. He called on more partners to join PLU’s rural outreach.
For Bugabo’s children, Kalema’s visit proves one thing: even on Uganda’s remotest shores, leaders are paying attention.
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