Rutenga Parents’ Primary School (RPPS)

RPPS is in a remote location near the southern border of Kanungu and Rubanda districts, 20kilometers along the Kanungu Kabale Road. Rutenga brings to CHIFCOD the unique ecological conditions of the higher altitudes that rise to 2500 meters above sea level in the Kerere zone with rare food crops like sorghum, Irish Potatoes and the livestock breeds like the famous Kigezi goat which long hair for warmth in an area whose temperatures are often below 10 degrees Celsius. Rutenga was considered and educationally barren community when CHIFCOD created RTTS in the year 2003. Long distances to find the nearest school and overwork on domestic labor all resulted in universal failure of primary leaving examinations. The school, has grown in quality over the last 23 years and boats of thousands of graduates in all fields.

The Geography of Rutenga I typical of what the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has classified as Uganda’s South-western Highlands Agro-ecological zone (SWHAEZ). Its mountain peaks are not spread out like the rolling hills of Nyakabungo. They are more intermittent like inverted funnels without any flat lands. Every one lives on a steep hill or in a valley and the peoples’ natural architectural genius is stunning. RPPS has in its neighborhood, the Kinaba Falls which are truly spectacular as the River Ishasha drops down over a cliff at least 20 meters along its nearly 100 kilometer journey from Hamurwa to Lake Edward. Highland agriculture, mountain architecture and waters ports are big attractions in Rutenga.