Five government grant-aided secondary schools in Adjumani District have received 260 bicycles to help refugee and host community learners overcome transport challenges, improve attendance, and enhance academic performance.
The beneficiary schools—Dzaipi, Pagirinya, Adjumani, Lewa Seed, and Ofua Seed secondary schools—each received 52 bicycles, including 50 for learners and two for school administration.
Many students walk between three and six kilometres daily, often arriving late or missing lessons due to long distances and bad weather. Headteacher Jerome Amizaru of Dzaipi Secondary School said the bicycles will enable learners to attend classes on time and consistently.
ENABEL’s Institutional Development Officer, Caroline Akullu Menya, said a needs assessment identified transport as a major barrier to education. She noted that the bicycles will improve punctuality, concentration, and academic performance. Once beneficiaries complete school, the bicycles will be passed on to other deserving learners.
Student beneficiaries Simon Peter Alumai and Sharon Ababiku welcomed the support, saying it will save travel time, reduce delays, and help them focus on their studies.
Beyond bicycle distribution, the project has provided toolkits, trained learners in road safety, established bicycle management committees, and equipped five local mechanics with maintenance skills to ensure sustainability.
Cycling Out of Poverty Uganda (CooP-Uganda) Project Coordinator Hellen Kakungulu said the initiative aims to reduce school dropout rates, improve learner retention, and ensure that no child misses education because of transport challenges.
During the handover, partners, school leaders, parents, and learners signed a memorandum of understanding to guide proper management of the bicycles, which will remain the property of the schools and be reassigned to new beneficiaries after current users complete their studies.
The initiative is supported through a partnership involving Cycling Out of Poverty Uganda (CooP-Uganda), ENABEL, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Government of Belgium, and the European Union to strengthen access to quality education for refugee and host community learners in Adjumani District.
