Oyam school, Rakai residents receive sh489m boost

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The Japanese Government has awarded Uganda a grant of sh489m ($140,905) to rehabilitate a school in Oyam district, northern Uganda, and construct seven boreholes in Rakai district. The initiative is aimed at improving education and health standards in these two regions.

The beneficiaries include Angweta Primary School in Oyam district, which will receive funding for a classroom block, and Byakabanda and Lwanda sub-counties in Rakai, where seven boreholes will be constructed. The project aims to improve access to safe water and reduce water-borne diseases in Rakai.

Rakai is among the districts in Uganda grappling with a water crisis, with approximately 78% of its population lacking easy access to clean, safe water. In recent years, some deaths have been recorded due to water scarcity.

Flavia Nakanaabi, programme coordinator of Mission 316 Foundation, which received sh303m for the project, said that despite the presence of Lake Kijanebalola, the area still faces significant water scarcity and water-borne diseases. She explained that many residents who attempt to use lake water end up contracting diseases, which has claimed hundreds of lives in the past.

H.E Sasayama Takuya, Ambassador of Japan to Uganda delivering his speech. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“In the past, we have buried many of our people due to water-borne diseases. This project will at least save our community from this alarming challenge,” Nakanaabi said.

She added, “Access to safe water in Byakabanda and Lwanda sub-counties, the target areas of the project, is very low, with only 15% and 17% access respectively, compared to the national average of 65%. The development of water facilities has been a major challenge.”

In Oyam district, Angweta Primary School received sh186m to construct a four-classroom block and one office space. The school, which has a total of 1,300 pupils, currently has more than 500 students studying under trees due to a lack of facilities.

During the contract signing ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Kampala, Ivan Ocen, Executive Director of Foundation for Development and Relief Africa (FIDRA), a local NGO in northern Uganda, emphasised the need for increased investment in the region.

(Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

(Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

He pointed out that many schools in the area are in a state of disrepair, which he said hampers effective learning.

Ocen also noted that part of the funding will be used to provide 187 three-seater desks for students, four desks and chairs for teachers, and a filing cabinet to improve the learning and teaching environment. He believes these improvements will help keep pupils in school and enable them to complete their primary education.

“The funding will contribute significantly to ensuring that learners stay in school and complete their primary education cycle. The current learning and teaching environment has not been conducive for effective studies,” Ocen said.

(Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

The school dropout rate in Oyam district has been high over the years, affecting all primary grades. UNICEF reports show that more than 28,000 students dropped out of government-aided primary schools in Oyam district in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

During the contract signing, the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Sasayama Takuya, highlighted that over 400 applications were received for the grant. However, many did not meet the required criteria. Takuya explained that the funding was accessed through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GPP) programme.

He said the embassy’s selection process prioritised urgency and need, and both recipients were selected based on these criteria. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining the newly constructed facilities for future generations.

“I would like to congratulate all districts that have benefited from this grant after a tough selection process,” Takuya said. “Please remember to maintain the facilities well. Our team will visit to check the condition of the facilities and equipment two years after the handover. If you take good care of the facilities, you may be eligible for another opportunity to apply for the grant.”