Soroti city hands over sh6.9b seed school project to contractor

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Soroti city has officially handed over the construction site for St Andrew’s Opuyo Secondary School to the contractor, marking a major milestone in expanding access to secondary education within the city.

The ceremony took place at the 8.5-acre project site in Opuyo ward, Alaki cell, and brought together political and technical leaders, education stakeholders, community elders and representatives of the contracting firm.

The school project, valued at over sh6.9 billion, is funded by the Ministry of Education and Sports under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project. The contract has been awarded to Amugoli General Enterprises Limited, which is expected to begin work on March 10, 2026, with completion scheduled for January 10, 2027.

St Andrew’s Opuyo Secondary School was established in 2022 and currently enrols over 150 students. Once completed, the new infrastructure will significantly expand its capacity.

According to city officials, the project will deliver a fully functional secondary school equipped with modern classroom blocks, administrative offices, fully equipped science laboratories, sanitation facilities, staff quarters, a football pitch, walkways, water systems and electricity connectivity. The development aims to create a conducive learning environment that meets national education standards.

Badru Ochengel, representing the Soroti city town clerk, confirmed that all preparatory processes have been finalised and that construction will commence as scheduled.

Juliet Agonyo, speaker of Soroti City Council representing the mayor, described the project as a turning point for the city’s education sector. She noted that the new school will reduce congestion in existing government-aided secondary schools and bring services closer to communities that have long struggled with limited access.

“Parents will no longer have to send their children to distant schools, which has often led to high dropout rates and financial strain,” Agonyo said.

Soroti city education officer Michael Obuya expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to deliver quality work within the stipulated timeframe. He assured residents that his office would closely monitor the construction process to ensure adherence to quality standards, transparency and value for money.

Obuya also called on the community to safeguard construction materials and cooperate with site managers to prevent delays.

The headteacher of St Andrew’s Opuyo Secondary School, Bartholomew Okweny, described the handover as the realisation of years of advocacy and planning. He said the new facilities will improve teaching and learning conditions, attract qualified teachers and enhance academic performance. Okweny expressed optimism that the school will grow into a leading academic institution in the region.

Parents and community members welcomed the development, describing it as timely and transformative. Many noted that students currently travel long distances to access secondary education, increasing transport costs and exposing them to risks. Some residents appealed to the contractor to prioritise local labour during construction, arguing that it would provide economic benefits to families in the area.

As ground-breaking is set for early March, the project represents more than construction. It signals a long-term investment in the future of Soroti city. If completed on schedule, St Andrew’s Opuyo Secondary School is expected to play a key role in expanding access to affordable secondary education and nurturing the next generation of leaders.