Kaukura Seed SS in Pallisa gets 357.4 million from government

By Lawrence Okwakol

Pallisa; The community that is going to be served by the new Kaukura seed SS from Kaukura sub county, Gogonyo county in Pallisa district expressed joy during the ground breaking ceremony held at the site.

Joseph Ogwang, one of the residents from Katukei village in  Kaukura sub county said their children have been suffering trekking to Apopong seed SS which is 8km away or Pallisa SS that is 9km.

Ogwang said the girl children have fallen victims of high dropout rates as they are baits to men especially bodaboda riders who claim to be good Samaritans and later demand for sex.

“I should give thanks to our member of parliament Derrick Orone for his lobbying abilities that have benefited us. This school is far better than lining up people for shs. 5,000”, Okuni said.Anthony Adome 

During the launch, the Pallisa district chairperson LC5 Patrick Duchu said the ground breaking to kick start the construction of Kaukura seed SS leaves the district will only seven out of 21 sub counties without a secondary school as per government policy.

Duchu said this makes Pallisa district proud of president Yoweri Museveni and the entire NRM government for the implementation of the manifesto.

The Gogonyo county member of parliament Derrick Orone said he lobbied for two secondary schools and one technical school from the minister of education and sports Janet Kataha Museveni through Peter Ogwang the minister of state for sports.

Orone said he was lucky to have Obutet and Kaukura seed SS schools were considered but once the technical school is also approved it will be constructed in Apopong sub county so as to balance educational institutions in the county.

“If KATC engineering company does a good job it will be recommended for Obutet which is underway as well. The construction of this Kaukura seed SS the youth are going to get jobs here”, Orone said. The challenge of my constituents is they don’t give education priority but this shall not stop me from lobbying as sensitization goes on,” Orone said.

However, Godfrey Byekwanso, the Pallisa chief administrative officer said the construction of the two line stance pit latrines,two classroom block, administration and two stance pit latine for teachers is  going to cost shs. 356.4 million funds from ministry of education and sports.

He said KATC was considered from a number of contractors that responded to the bid MOeS.PAL/UGIFT/works/2023/2024 which company hr asked to consider using the community available skilled and unskilled labour to make the own the project and earn. You will only source others if the locals cannot provide.

Byekwanso challenged the contractor to do quality work that reflects value for money or else he will accept any payments to poor quality work.

He said for the two-classroom block, put latrines and office, shs.500 million is available so far but the school is going to have teachers houses classroom blocks from senior one to six, laboratory, computer lab among other structures.

“I have identified Pauline Nkechi as the site engineer to monitor the work on daily basis and she is a proven dedicated person as evidenced at Akomolo seed SS in Pallisa sub county,” Byekwanso said.

Nkechi challenged the contractor to go by the bill of quantities without diversion, on community she asked people to be vigilant and help her reject the materials she doesn’t consider.

“You have to take keen precautions on social and environmental. I would like to call for all stakeholder’s involvement for the project to succeed,” Nkechi said.

Magidu Dhikusoka, the Pallisa resident district commissioner while handing over documents to the contractor on behalf of the president and central government thanked people of reaping what they expected from NRM when they voted for president Museveni.

Dhikusoka praised the local leadership and technical workers for the unity when it comes to service delivery.