Uganda, March 29 -- For years, the government has said traditional public schools across the country were going to be expanded and given a facelift. The promise was lauded as sound given the extreme levels of dilapidation that have turned most of these institutions into veritable death-traps.

However, months since the last repetition of this wonderful promise a noticeable cynicism has set in. It is easy to see why. The regurgitation by Ms Ketty Lamaro, permanent secretary, ministry of education and sports, last weekend did little to reassure largely because there has been a lot of talk, but hardly any follow-through action.

A month before the renewed commitment in May 2023, Parliament's sessional committee on education had in April 2023...