First Lady unveils sh37b school project

Dec 09, 2013

The project, which will involve the rehabilitation of 21 primary schools across the Karamoja region, is launched.

By Vision Reporter

The Irish Aid funded Karamoja Primary Education Project (KPEP) which will involve the rehabilitation of 21 primary schools across the Karamoja region has been launched.

The project worth over sh37.4b will include the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories, administration blocks, teachers’ houses, kitchens, latrines and rainharvesting facilities in three primary schools in each of the seven districts.

The schools will also receive solar power, beds, chairs, tables, water tanks, equipment, books and instructional materials.

The First Lady, who is also Karamoja Affairs Minister, Janet Museveni, launched the programme together with the Ireland’s Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD, who was in Uganda for a threeday visit.

The Minister for Education and Sports, Jessica Alupo, attended the function held at Loodoi Primary School in Napak district on Thursday.

The function was also attended by the Irish Ambassador to Uganda Donald Cronin, the Director General of Irish Aid Brendan Rogers, Karamoja MPs, district leaders, officials from the embassy of Ireland and the Ministry of Education, head teachers, the community and school children from various schools in Karamoja.

Mrs. Museveni paid tribute to the Government and people of Ireland for identifying with Karamoja and giving Uganda a supporting hand in its struggle to lift up the people of this region.

She informed the visitors that the people of Karamoja used to be very critical of education because it never gave their children any skills whatsoever to transform their way of life.

She said the Karimojong are encouraged to educate their children because the NRM Government, which understands that education should be comprehensive so as to transform the country, mobilised them through the elders.


Janet Museveni, minister for Karamoja, plants a tree to commemorate the launch of the project at Loodoi Primary School in Moroto district. Looking on are Education minister Jessica Alupo (2nd-L), Ireland minister of Trade and Development Joe Costello (2nd-R) and other officials.

“We have been trying to ensure that the education Institutions in Karamoja are expanded to include boarding facilities so that children can stay at school till they finish. Therefore, this programme we have launched will make this a reality,” she said.

The minister saluted the Irish Aid, saying the long time sincere friendship and co-operation has helped provide vital services and has contributed to the transformation of Karamoja region.

She urged the Ministry of Education to join hands with her ministry to effectively monitor the education programmes in Karamoja to ensure that they fully benefit the intended communities.

She also reminded the local leaders in Karamoja to use the retooling fund in their respective budgets to maintain the facilities being put up by the Government and the development partners. “It will help if all of us work as a team and ensure that the support we receive from our development partners truly benefits those it is intended for,” Mrs. Museveni said.

Ireland’s Trade and Development minister Joe Costello said they are proud to be the main sponsors of the Karamoja primary education programme.

 “The construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories, administration blocks, teachers’ houses, kitchens, latrines and rainharvesting facilities will, I hope, play a considerable role in ensuring that the required infrastructure is there for your schools in Karamoja to produce the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

The Minister also conveyed the news that the Global Partnership for Education had granted Uganda $100m (about sh250b) for the next three years to support the education sector and hoped that it contributes to the provision of quality education for the nation’s youth.

He said Ireland has always emphasised education because it is absolutely essential for giving people their freedom, liberating them and enabling them to move forward, build communities and the country.

He pledged that Ireland will continue supporting Karamoja and Uganda to ensure development. Education minister Alupo in brief remarks hailed Ireland’s support and the recent resumption of the education aid, which had been suspended last year.

She said the Karamoja primary education programme will help overcome the many obstacles in the districts of Karamoja, which make them lag behind in education.

She said through the provision of boarding facilities, the rogramme will also be promoting the girl-child education. Construction works will commence in mid March 2014, Alupo said and appealed to all stakeholders in Karamoja for maximum cooperation and ownership of the project.

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