Equity Bank facility helps Vurra Secondary School complete dormitory

What the report says

Vurra Secondary School in Arua, in Uganda’s West Nile region, has completed a 120-bed boys’ dormitory with support from Equity Bank Uganda, according to The Independent. The school, founded by the Church in 1981 and now government-aided, has been expanding to match rising enrolment, but says public funding has not been enough to cover major infrastructure needs.

The report says the school partnered with Equity Bank in late 2024 and later secured a Shs120 million credit facility to help finance a Shs280 million dormitory project. Head teacher David Dima said the dormitory has eased overcrowding for boys and provides more space for students to live and study. The article places the development in the context of rapid growth in student numbers and limited classroom and housing capacity.

School leaders are now planning a matching girls’ dormitory, with completion targeted for February next year so that incoming Senior Five students can be accommodated in March 2027, the article says. Dima also said the school is seeking more land and exploring financing for a bus, while also considering support packages for staff not on the government payroll.

Equity Bank Uganda Managing Director Gift Shoko said structured financing can allow institutions to start projects without waiting for all funds upfront. The school’s experience, as described by The Independent, highlights how external financing can help rural schools expand while trying to maintain financial stability.