Minister castigates Otuke leaders over unused OPM iron sheets

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Two officials in Otuke District survived being arrested over failure to utilise 70 iron sheets that were delivered by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to the district to reroof a school. 

Otuke Chief Administrative Officer, Simon Peter Akileng and Barjobi Primary School headmaster, Joseph Alengo were pardoned and given an ultimatum of two months to have the iron sheets used for reroofing classrooms that were left exposed by heavy winds some years back. 

The ultimatum was given by the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, at Barjobi Health Centre III in Barjobi Town Council where she had represented the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja in commissioning the construction of a theatre and outpatient department. 

Minister Kwiyucwiny addressing the community at Barjobi HCIII in Otuke on Saturday. (Photo by Joseph Ekol)

The pair’s troubles began when Otuke Resident District Commissioner Robert Adiama handed over a letter written by the headmaster to the Office of the Prime Minister, requesting support to construct the classroom in the school whose structures were blown off some years back. 

When the minister stood up to speak, she tasked the head teacher and the Chief Administrative Officer to explain before hundreds of people in attendance, why the school classrooms had not been reroofed after receiving 70 iron sheets one year ago. 

Barjobi Primary School is among many learning institutions in Otuke that are grappling with dilapidated facilities which are affecting smooth learning. 

Currently, the school with an enrolment of 1675 pupils, has only one classroom block which is hosting learners of P3, P4 and P5 who even sit on the floor, while P1 and P2 are studying under a tree. 

Before her arrival at the health centre, Kwiyucwiny was received at Barjobi Primary School by Otuke County MP Paul Omara and other district officials. 

Kwiyucwiny was surprised to see that the school still had structures without roofs yet she had delivered 100 iron sheets to reroof them about a year ago. 

“These people needed the iron sheets because the children were studying under the trees, the wall was already up and there was only the roofing remaining; how can this work take one year? It’s very sad and I am very disappointed,” Kwiyucwiny noted. 

The minister narrated that when the Karamoja iron sheet saga erupted, all of the ministers and senior staff under the Office of the Prime Minister were almost sent to prison. 

“I wrote statements explaining where I took iron sheets, even the parliamentarian recorded a statement. For many places in Northern Uganda where I took iron sheets, they have put them to good use,” she explained, threatening to go back to Otuke to take on the leaders after two months if work is not completed. 

She said if the iron sheets were not enough, the officials should have written to her already requesting more. 

In his defence, headmaster Alengo said he failed to use the iron sheets because the wall is dilapidated and they are still waiting for the district officials to go and demolish the whole structure and put a new one on which the iron sheets will be used. 

CAO Akileng said they have already budgeted some money for the completion and the contract has already been awarded and that by the end of November 27, 2023, they will sign the contract and the work will subsequently commence. 

MP Omara said the delay in rehabilitating the school when the government has already given them materials not only derails service delivery for the people but shames the leadership of the district which must be addressed by the district officials. 

Sh1b facility 

The OPD and operating theatre whose construction and extension was launched, will spend about a total of sh1b and the construction will be undertaken by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Engineering Brigade. 

In her message, Kwiycwiny called upon the leaders of Otuke to join efforts in supporting the project until it gets completed to serve the intended beneficiaries. She said health does not segregate whether one is an NRM supporter or for opposition. 

Patrick Opio, the District Health Officer, said construction will go a long way in addressing the health service delivery needs not only in Otuke but even in the neighbouring districts of Alebtong, Pader, Agago, Lira and Abim.