Grassroots committees to safeguard community during seed school construction

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Grievance redress committees (GRCs) have been established at various levels in Abim sub-county to protect children and families from social evils that might arise during the construction of Kanu Secondary School.

This seed school will be the first secondary school in Abim sub-county, Abim district, in the Karamoja sub-region. It is part of the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), funded by the government with support from the World Bank.

The project aims to enhance access to lower secondary education in underserved populations across the country. Joyce Atimango, executive director of Trailblazers Mentoring Foundation (TMF), an implementing partner under the Ministry of Education and Sports, said that social evils often occur where there are major infrastructural developments such as the construction of roads, dams, schools, and hospitals.

Grievance redress committees (GRCs) have been established at various levels in Abim sub county to protect children and families from social evils. (Courtesy photo)

“Some communities report a rise in teenage pregnancies, domestic violence, family disintegration, plus environmental pollution and degradation. In Abim, the committees will help mitigate and manage such cases,” she explained. “This is a mega project. We are preparing the community to be able to address the complaints that will come up during construction.”

The committees are established at the school, village, police, sub-county, district, and national levels. TMF is also conducting community dialogues. Canon Joseph Isaac Opia, the programme manager, said these committees and existing structures will be strengthened to receive complaints and address them promptly.

For example, the site committee will handle complaints related to delayed payments, noise pollution, and accidents. Cases within the school will be managed by the disciplinary committee. At the village level, the local council committee will be responsible.

If a case cannot be resolved at these levels, it will be escalated to the Child and Wellbeing Committee at parish or sub-county level and further escalated to district and national levels if necessary. Pastor John Cwinyai, chairperson of the child protection committee at Abim sub-county, described the school as a blessing but warned its construction could bring challenges such as increased teenage pregnancies and adultery.

The committees, therefore, hold meetings every two months to prepare the community on how to address such issues. Janet Alum, a women’s leader and child protection officer, added that even after construction, the school will boost business and development in the area, attracting outsiders, and where there is money, social evils may follow.

Fortunately, residents now know where to report matters when they arise. The district will also ensure that contractors behave appropriately. Charles Omugetum, an Abim district official, pointed out, “Normally, builders don’t move with their wives, yet they sometimes have a lot of money. They might use it to lure married women, hence destabilising families.”

John Steven Ekoom, resident district commander (RDC) for Abim, noted that in meetings he has attended, issues such as child labour and domestic violence are frequently raised and must be handled effectively.