Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Nobert Mao has said education standards and infrastructures are still very low in northern Uganda.

Mao says the standard of education is still very low, infrastructures are down and the region has the least tarmacked roads in the country.

His message was contained in a video recording presented by the deputy vice chancellor of Lira University incharge of academic affairs, Prof Okaka Opio Dokotum in a conference organised by the university on the impact of the people killed by the Lord's Resistance Army in Abia, Alebtong district.

The Lira University justice and memory international conference with the theme: Remembering the Abia massacre and focusing on its impact on informal (music) education, memory, peace and recovery ended on Thursday.

Prof Okaka making a presentation during the conference on Wednesday/Photo by Patrick Okino

In 2004, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) presumed to be commanded by Okot Odiambo attacked the Abia internally displaced camp in Alebtong district and massacred 139 people, while others survived with life-threatening injuries.

The government had since set up a monument and established Abia Technical Institute in memory of the people massacred and to skill the orphans arising from the event.

Mao noted that though the gun is silent in the region, the level of education and infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired.

Partcipants of the conference taking a group photo at Lira University on Wednesday/Photo by Patrick Okino

Statistics of 2022 PLE

According to the 2022 Primary Leaving Examinations, several districts in the regions of Lango and Acholi performed poorly.

These include Kole: Out of the 4,253 candidates who sat, only 207 made it to Division One; Dokolo had 4,210, but only 201 excelled in Division One; Amolatar had 3,137 pupils but 147 in Division One; Omoro had 3,458 pupils and 146were in Division One and Alebtong had 4,541, but only 151 passed in division one.

Others include Oyam 7,014 and 190 made it to the top; Otuke had 1,987 only 47 excelled; Pader 4,466 and out of them 94 made it; Agago 5,152, but only 106 scored division one, Nwoya 2,665, only 47 passed with flying colours, Lamwo 4,103 and 42 passed in Division One and Kitgum had 3698, only 27.    

Mao recalled that when he was elected chairperson of Gulu district he started the transition from the humanitarian phase to reconstruction.