Bam Model Nursery and Primary School in Kikeesa trading centre, Bubaare sub-county Mbarara district has been turned into a bar as eight private primary schools have failed to reopen following to resumption of schools.
The other schools are Kashaka Moslem primary school, Ruyonza primary school, Bukiro community primary school, Rubaya Standard primary school, Bubaare parents primary school, Bukiro Destiny primary school and Bwizibwera standard primary and St Johns Primary School.
Enoch Mbakuratire, director of Bam Model Nursery and Primary schools says he chose to change after debts from loans kept accumulating and he needs to service them.
According to Mbamukuratire, the school had an enrollment of 347 leaners from Nursery to Primary seven.
Justus Muhairwe, the Chairperson Social Service committee says some of the schools had earlier shown signs of reopening but later failed.
He says during their tour as social service committee, they found out that two of the schools had closed because they failed to attract back their teachers.
Gabriel Ahimbisibwe the Mbarara District Education Officer, says they are yet to have a final report from the inspectors to ascertain the final list of schools that have failed to reopen. He says in the inspection they are also to find out the number of teachers that left and the school enrollment.
Ahimbisibwe says many proprietors went different ways as some ran bankrupt and many had loans to clear in banks.
Kellen Ayebazibwe, inspector of schools says the closure of private schools especially primary has seen the number of learners overwhelm the government schools.
She says they are currently facing the challenge of fewer desks and small classrooms to accommodate the huge numbers of learners.
She says they are yet to fully compile the enrollment.