Summary:
- Paul Walakiria, Katakwi’s Chief Administrative Officer, emphasized that the technical school is a presidential pledge.
KATAKWI: The Katakwi District Council has formally petitioned the Ministry of Education and Sports, requesting the relocation of a proposed technical institute from Ngariam County to Toroma County.
The petition, seen by our website on November 12, 2024, raises concerns about equitable access to education and addresses longstanding disparities in the distribution of educational infrastructure within the district.
This development follows a presidential directive to establish a technical school in Ngariam County, commemorating the tragic Karimojong massacre, which claimed 23 lives from the Ngariam, Palam, and Okore communities. While the community acknowledges the initiative’s significance, the District Council advocates redistributing resources to ensure fairness across Katakwi’s three counties: Ngariam, Usuk, and Toroma.
Paul Walakiria, Katakwi’s Chief Administrative Officer, emphasized that the technical school is a presidential pledge. However, he noted that the council passed a resolution aligning with government policy, which stipulates that each county should have one technical school.
“We have prepared a petition and initiated communication with the ministry to schedule a meeting. Once finalized, the petition will include the council’s resolution and supporting documentation,” Walakiria stated.
The district reportedly received UGX 450 million during the 2023/24 fiscal year as part of a UGX 1 billion construction grant from the World Bank under the Gifts Project. However, the petition argues that Ngariam County already has Katakwi Technical School, while Toroma County, the district’s least developed area, has no technical institution.
The petition underscores that constructing another technical school in Ngariam would duplicate resources and miss an opportunity to bridge the educational gap in Toroma.
Raphael Ojakal, the district councilor for Usuk, clarified that the petition does not undermine the significance of honoring the victims of the Karimojong massacre. Instead, it seeks to ensure equitable resource distribution as mandated by government policy.
“Ngariam County has Katakwi Technical School, and Usuk County has Epel Memorial Technical Institute. Toroma County, on the other hand, has none. The council unanimously resolved on October 23, 2024, to relocate the technical school to Toroma,” Ojakal explained.
Citing Section 35 of the Local Government Act, which designates the council as the highest planning authority, the Katakwi District Council has delayed the construction of the technical school.
Toroma County, with a population of approximately 51,212—51.4% of whom are women is considered the district’s most underserved area. The petition concludes by urging the Ministry of Education and Sports to intervene and approve the relocation to Toroma.
This move, the council argues, is not merely about the location of a single school but about addressing broader educational inequalities and ensuring that all Ugandans have fair access to critical resources.
Background
A letter dated November 7, 2023, from the Minister of State for Education and Sports referenced an earlier presidential commitment from January 14, 2019, to establish a technical school in Ngariam. This pledge was made at the request of bereaved families and the Ngariam Sub-county community.
However, minutes from an emergency district council meeting on August 11, 2023, revealed a resolution to relocate the school to Toroma. The meeting, under Minute 06/11th/08/CL/2023, highlighted discrepancies in the FY 2023/24 budget and included a motion to allocate the school to Toroma. This motion, supported by councilors, was unanimously approved.
Further discussions during an October 28, 2024, council meeting reaffirmed this decision, with the councilors citing a letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports dated October 4, 2024, which supported equitable distribution of technical schools.
Despite these resolutions, reports suggest that only two councilors had signed the petition as of November 12, 2024, amid speculation that the technical school may still be built in Ngariam due to shifts in councilor support.
The final decision now rests with the Ministry of Education and Sports, as the district anticipates an outcome that addresses the long standing disparities in Katakwi’s educational landscape.
