Lira Central Primary School to Open Boarding Section in 2026

By Moses Olet Emor

Lira City, Uganda — Lira Central Primary School is set to open a boarding section in 2026, a move aimed at improving pupils’ welfare and academic performance.

The new section will initially accommodate pupils in Primary Five (P5) to Primary Seven (P7), according to the school’s Director, Mr. Jerry Omonya, who made the announcement on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the school premises.

Omonya said the decision was reached after management identified several challenges faced by parents and learners, including difficulties in transporting pupils to and from school, especially during the rainy seasons. He noted that many parents rely on boda boda riders to ferry their children, often carrying multiple pupils at once, which poses safety risks.

He further pointed out that domestic violence and unstable home environments were affecting pupils’ concentration and performance in class. “Some pupils come from homes where parents are always fighting, and that affects their academic focus,” Omonya said.

The Director also revealed that the school had been losing upper-class pupils to other institutions with boarding facilities. “Many parents who work far from home prefer boarding schools for their children, and since we didn’t have that option, we kept losing our P5 to P7 pupils,” he added.

According to Omonya, the introduction of the boarding section will enable teachers to spend more quality time with learners, thereby improving performance.

The school’s Headteacher, Mr. Tom Okwir, confirmed that the boarding section will start with P5 to P7 classes but will later be extended to lower classes as facilities expand.

Founded in the year 2000, Lira Central Primary School has operated as a day school for over two decades. The upcoming development marks a major milestone in the school’s growth and commitment to providing a conducive learning environment for its pupils.