Sh100m needed to lift Ombaci back on its feet
Sep 07, 2011
TO many, the name Ombaci evokes memories of might and academic excellence. But today, the school that nurtured professionals in different disciplines is living in the shadow of its glorious past.
By Richard Drasimaku
TO many, the name Ombaci evokes memories of might and academic excellence. But today, the school that nurtured professionals in different disciplines is living in the shadow of its glorious past.
A signpost inscribed with the words ‘welcome to Ombaci’ receives you at the edge of the school’s football grounds. As you walk further, dilapidated pre-colonial buildings usher you to the other side of the former academic giant.
The window panes, shattered by bullets during the 1980s insurgency, have not been fixed to date.
The windows and doors of the classrooms, laboratories, dining hall and dormitories were vandalised by unruly students during the old days synonymous with strikes.
Pieces of cardboard boxes are used to cover windows and doors. The roofs are rusty, while the wall paint is peeling off.
This is the state of St. Joseph’s College Ombaci located five miles from Arua town on Arua-Yumbe Road.
Glorious years
The school reached the peak of glory between 1983 and 1990, when it was ranked among the top 10 schools in the country.
Among the school's old boys are Alex Onzima (local government state minister), Dr. Gabriel Aridru (Arua Municipality MP), Bernard Atiku (Ayivu MP) and Fungaro Kaps (Obongi county MP).
Others are Dr. William Worodria of Mulago Hospital, Eng. Patrick Okuni of the United Nations Children's Fund and Patrick Ezaga of Makerere University Business School.
The beginning
St. Joseph’s College Ombaci was founded by the Comboni Missionaries in 1947 to train the second World War veterans in bricklaying, metal fabrication and wood works.
It was later turned into a technical school, with motor vehicle mechanics being introduced as another subject. In 1971, the O’level section was started. Immediately, Ombaci began shinning. However, in 1980, it was affected by the insecurity in the area that followed the overthrow of Idi Amin.
Like other schools in West Nile, Ombaci was forced to close down, only to re-open after 1982.
The A’level wing was added a year later mainly to accommodate students who were stranded in A’level at the time St. Charles Lwanga Secondary, Koboko, was closed due to the same insurgency.
The school bounced back with zeal for excellence. The discipline was superb, teachers were committed and the school administration was efficient.
Doom sets in
By the early 1990s, the good things that Ombaci was known for turned bad, culminating in the infamous 1994 frog-marching of the headmaster, Hercules Abiriga, by rowdy students. From then on, Ombaci fell from academic limelight. Teachers were never supervised and students resented assemblies and school regulations.
Sanctus Atiku, the school's current headmaster, says by the time he was appointed in May last year, Ombaci had accumulated a debt of sh197m. The district sports committee also suspended the school from participating in sports because of hooliganism.
According to Alice Drateru, a teacher at the school, Ombaci could not attract brilliant students as parents preferred to take their children to other schools.
The enrollment dropped from an average of about 1,000 students to 708 students today.
The school needs over sh100m to renovate all the buildings. Ombaci mostly relies on the sh330,000 per term school fees, which the administration is reluctant to increase because it is one of the highest in the region.
Revival efforts
Attempts to awaken Ombaci began last year when the board of governors decided to disband almost the entire administration. This was after the retirement of the headteacher, Augustine Juruga, who served from 1998. The board reviewed the school regulations, instituting strict disciplinary measures and pegged the conduct of teachers to payment of remunerations.
“I am satisfied with the way the new leadership has taken off. When I visit Ombaci these days, I see some order. I think academic performance should start to improve this year,†Andua says.
The vice-chairman of the board of governors, Martin Drani, who is also a former student, says the school’s hope is hinged on funds from the African Development Bank.
Andua, now the town clerk of Arua municipal council, says under the bank's project, the ministry of education is considering constructing new classrooms, dormitories, science laboratories and staff houses.
At 64 years, Ombaci is once again on track to regain its former position on the national academic ladder.
TO many, the name Ombaci evokes memories of might and academic excellence. But today, the school that nurtured professionals in different disciplines is living in the shadow of its glorious past.
A signpost inscribed with the words ‘welcome to Ombaci’ receives you at the edge of the school’s football grounds. As you walk further, dilapidated pre-colonial buildings usher you to the other side of the former academic giant.
The window panes, shattered by bullets during the 1980s insurgency, have not been fixed to date.
The windows and doors of the classrooms, laboratories, dining hall and dormitories were vandalised by unruly students during the old days synonymous with strikes.
Pieces of cardboard boxes are used to cover windows and doors. The roofs are rusty, while the wall paint is peeling off.
This is the state of St. Joseph’s College Ombaci located five miles from Arua town on Arua-Yumbe Road.
Glorious years
The school reached the peak of glory between 1983 and 1990, when it was ranked among the top 10 schools in the country.
Among the school's old boys are Alex Onzima (local government state minister), Dr. Gabriel Aridru (Arua Municipality MP), Bernard Atiku (Ayivu MP) and Fungaro Kaps (Obongi county MP).
Others are Dr. William Worodria of Mulago Hospital, Eng. Patrick Okuni of the United Nations Children's Fund and Patrick Ezaga of Makerere University Business School.
The beginning
St. Joseph’s College Ombaci was founded by the Comboni Missionaries in 1947 to train the second World War veterans in bricklaying, metal fabrication and wood works.
It was later turned into a technical school, with motor vehicle mechanics being introduced as another subject. In 1971, the O’level section was started. Immediately, Ombaci began shinning. However, in 1980, it was affected by the insecurity in the area that followed the overthrow of Idi Amin.
Like other schools in West Nile, Ombaci was forced to close down, only to re-open after 1982.
The A’level wing was added a year later mainly to accommodate students who were stranded in A’level at the time St. Charles Lwanga Secondary, Koboko, was closed due to the same insurgency.
The school bounced back with zeal for excellence. The discipline was superb, teachers were committed and the school administration was efficient.
Doom sets in
By the early 1990s, the good things that Ombaci was known for turned bad, culminating in the infamous 1994 frog-marching of the headmaster, Hercules Abiriga, by rowdy students. From then on, Ombaci fell from academic limelight. Teachers were never supervised and students resented assemblies and school regulations.
Sanctus Atiku, the school's current headmaster, says by the time he was appointed in May last year, Ombaci had accumulated a debt of sh197m. The district sports committee also suspended the school from participating in sports because of hooliganism.
According to Alice Drateru, a teacher at the school, Ombaci could not attract brilliant students as parents preferred to take their children to other schools.
The enrollment dropped from an average of about 1,000 students to 708 students today.
The school needs over sh100m to renovate all the buildings. Ombaci mostly relies on the sh330,000 per term school fees, which the administration is reluctant to increase because it is one of the highest in the region.
Revival efforts
Attempts to awaken Ombaci began last year when the board of governors decided to disband almost the entire administration. This was after the retirement of the headteacher, Augustine Juruga, who served from 1998. The board reviewed the school regulations, instituting strict disciplinary measures and pegged the conduct of teachers to payment of remunerations.
“I am satisfied with the way the new leadership has taken off. When I visit Ombaci these days, I see some order. I think academic performance should start to improve this year,†Andua says.
The vice-chairman of the board of governors, Martin Drani, who is also a former student, says the school’s hope is hinged on funds from the African Development Bank.
Andua, now the town clerk of Arua municipal council, says under the bank's project, the ministry of education is considering constructing new classrooms, dormitories, science laboratories and staff houses.
At 64 years, Ombaci is once again on track to regain its former position on the national academic ladder.