Govt gives Nyapea College in Zombo sh450m for facelift

By Ayiga Ondoga

Government has allocated about sh450m to kick-start the rehabilitation of the dilapidated infrastructure at St. Aloysius College, Nyapea in Zombo.

The funds have been channeled under the African Development Bank (ADB) Four Grant project for construction of classrooms and purchase of desks, laboratory equipment,  restoration of the sanitation system and other furniture to create a comfortable studying environment for the students.

The school’s head, John Bosco Opio said: "Government has come up with a deliberate development programme to revamp the college that used to be a centre of academic excellence nationally under the ADB 4 grant project."

However, Opio said for the total rehabilitation programme of the school, over sh950m is needed to cover the areas of electricity (generator), water system establishment, construction of the administration block, dormitories, library, laboratories and teachers houses among others.

He lamented the poor enrollment and declining number of the students from 700 to 160 this year due to the poor facilities at the college.

"With these situations at the school, the students take long to report for studies and the school fees of sh220,000 is paid in phases which affects the operations of the college," Opio stressed.

"The students’ and parents’ attitude towards education in the region should be changed through sensitization."

Opio stated that the school is raising some funds locally by selling some of their wood logs to the surrounding communities and use some as fuel for cooking.

"If the college could get some money to repair the school tractor, we would be able to cultivate some food crops on our school farm for feeding the students," Opio observed.

The strike

He said the school was affected seriously during a strike in 1997 which led to the burning of the administration block where furniture and textbooks were destroyed.

"The school took long to reopen after the strike, which led to some parents taking their children to other schools in the region.

“It was difficult for the students to return to the college," Opio noted.

Opio appealed for the establishment of the e-learning facility through the installment of internet systems for the students.

When the New Vision visited the school, the dormitories had very few beds and as a result, most of the students sleep on the floor. Also, most classrooms lacked desks.

Opio noted that the school which was founded by some American Brothers, performed excellently in academics where it produced some prominent personalities like fallen former Ugandan leader Milton Obote, former Prime Minister Cosmas Adyebo and the State minister for Finance, Fred Jacan Omach.

Other prominent Old Boys include: Former Nwoya MP, Zachari Olum and doctors Gamba Osiga of the Catholic Medical Bureau, Nyatorombo of Ministry of Health and Jeremy of Nebbi hospital.

The headteacher explained that then, St.Aloysius College,Nyapea, St. Joseph College Ombaci, St. Charles Lwanga College Koboko and Mvara Secondary school were the best schools in West Nile region but would later be affected by the wars.