SGS donates fence to Mbale school to boost safety and security of pupils

As part of their Social Corporate Responsibility (SCR) activities, Societe Generale De Surveillance (SGS), a Swiss company charged with motor-vehicle inspections in the country, has donated 15 rolls of chain link to Nauyo Primary School in Mbale. The school that has over 2400 pupils according to their head teacher Francis Khauka was grappling with a litany of challenges including; security and safety of the pupils in the face of rampant school fires around the country by suspected intruders and arsonists. The chain link was handed over to the school during a ceremony by SGS Mbale station manager, Luka Mukwana, yesterday at the school premises. Speaking at the ceremony, SGS Human Resource Manager, Saidi Alikwani said the company has entrusted station branches to handle SCR activities in their respective locations as they better understand the community’s needs. “At SGS Uganda, we give our Station Managers control over the CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility – initiatives in areas surrounding our stations because they are best placed to identify the needs of the local communities we operate in,” he said. The Head Teacher appreciated the SGS gesture, saying it will indeed address the challenge of security. “We are indeed grateful for this offer. This will help improve the security and safety of our school.” He however indicated that the school still has a few challenges that require solutions. He said the school of over 2000 pupils has one computer at the moment and no accommodation for any of the 36 teachers. He also revealed that the pupils share only 10 latrines available hence there is need to at least  build an extra 40 latrines. SGS Mbale Vehicle Inspection station is located in Bugema, on Tororo – Mbale road, about 3 kilometers from Mbale town, it was opened in Mbale on 11th September 2017 and inspects all types of vehicles. In March 2015, Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport awarded SGS an exclusive contract to carry out vehicle inspections countrywide on its behalf. The vehicle inspection exercise is carried out under “Safe Drive Uganda” – a road safety measure intended to ensure vehicle roadworthiness and reduce carnage on Ugandan roads. This mandatory exercise is aimed at improving road safety by compelling motor vehicle owners and drivers to use safe and well-maintained vehicles. SGS conducts almost 44 million vehicle inspections worldwide for both emissions and roadworthiness.