By Alex Gahima
A research report compiled by Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) recommends that Batwa parents in Kisoro, Kanungu, Rubanda and Kabale need to be supported with capacity building to motivate their children to go to School if they are to contribute positively to the development of the Country.
The research findings of 2019, suggest that more than 40% of Batwa Children face psychological abuse, at school and at home which affects their ability to commit to seeking a formal education.
Name calling from teachers and fellow pupils has also proven to exacerbate emotional trauma among Batwa School going children accounting for 37.5% dropout rate.
Teasing, kicking, acts of threatening violence and spreading false rumors among adults and fellow classmates also keeps Batwa Children out of School.
Batwa, also known as Pygmies, are an indigenous group of people found in parts of Kanungu, Kisoro, Rubanda and Kabale.
Before being evicted from Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park by the Government, the Batwa are said to have lived harmoniously in the forests as fruit gatherers and herbalists.
It is more than two decades since the Batwa left the forests to live among other tribes however research conducted, indicates that 60% of the Batwa do not own any land.
Their contribution to national development remains negligible as compared to other tribes in the country.
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) population report of 2014 placed their population at 6, 200 with an average of 4 people per household.
UBOS report of 2021 points to the fact that 79% of Batwa Children of School going age attend School while only 17% of the Batwa population completed tertiary level of education.
Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT) in collaboration with Kabale University conducted a baseline study in 2022 seeking to establish what causes a significant decline in enrolment and retention of Batwa children in School.
The baseline report revealed that limited support from parents contributes over 35% of School dropout rate among Batwa children.
Similarly, 71% of educators in Schools with Batwa children use corporal punishments as a way of managing Batwa children’s behavior, which forces them to abandon school pre-maturely.
Muganza and Mabuyemeru exemplary Schools.
Wilberforce Tumwesigye, the BMCT Trust Administrator explained that Education among the Batwa communities is one of key components under the Organization’s Mandate.
Under a one-year pilot project called Sustainable Education Responses for Batwa Children (SEREB), Primary Schools like Muganza and Mabuyemeru have managed to increase and even retain Batwa learners in School.
The SEREB project offers scholastic materials, Uniforms to learners as well as lunch for learners in Primary three to Seven.
Under the project, the pupils under Life Skills club are trained on how to solve everyday problems with the support of their teachers and fellow students.
Parent Skills group which meets every Friday of the week helps parents relate with teachers and allows them to keep track of their children’s progress at School.
Claire Kahunzire, Programs Coordinator for Kisoro says the Life Skills and Parent Skills group have really inspired significant change in the behavior of the Batwa.
Batwa parents are undergoing a transformation of their mind-set that it is possible for a Mutwa child to study with others and even succeed.
A total of 89 Batwa pupils have been trained in Life Skills while 64 parents have been trained in Parenting Skills.
Muganza Primary School Head Teacher Canon Rev Sam Nzita says the school has seen a remarkable change in attitude among Batwa learners and parents.
He explained that a lot more needs to be done to empower parents to know their role in supporting Batwa children who are very intelligent but need to be handled in a special way.
Rubanda district Inspector of Schools Francis Bamunyangira said he was impressed by the progress being made in Kisoro district, particularly at Muganza Primary School where the Batwa community and other tribes cannot easily be told apart.
He commended the parents for putting in extra effort to ensure that the Batwa children attend school and meeting other responsibilities including food, medical care of the children despite having many difficulties.
Conservation Refugees until When?
Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana said the Batwa issues can no longer be ignored.
He challenged the Parliament of Uganda to set aside a fund for the Batwa who have completely been ignored and cannot access opportunities in leadership and other Government programs like Parish Development Model because they have been marginalized.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi said the Batwa communities that have embraced education should not been discouraged but should continue to persevere if they wish to gain any developments.
Sekandi said Government does not desire to leave the Batwa community behind while others enjoy benefits of a developing nation however Parents, educators and the communities should continue to encourage the Batwa to develop a positive mind set towards education and work.
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