By Stanley Ebele
The Ugandan government is set to construct five new seed secondary schools in Karamoja as part of the Uganda Secondary School Education Expansion Project (USEEP) supported by World Bank.
Among the areas set to benefit under this project are Kanu in Abim district, Alakas in Amudat district, Losilang in Kotido district, Loreng in Nakapiripirit district and Lokopo in Napak district.
The five schools are part of the 172 schools to be constructed across the country under USEEP at a cost 150Mn US Dollar, approximately Shs547 trillion.
The USEEP project aims to enhance access to lower secondary education, particularly for underserved populations in targeted areas, including communities hosting refugees, girls, and people with limited access to public lower secondary schools.
With the constructions works expected to commence in next month, the community of Losilang, one of the beneficiaries in Kotido North Division has already donated 10 acres for the establishment of the school.
Stakeholders including parents, local leaders and educationists have started mobilizing children to join primary education at Losilang Girls Primary School to boost the enrolment at Losilang Seed School when they cross to high school.
Meanwhile, a local development partner, Trail Blazers Mentoring Foundation (TMF) is engaging with host communities in identifying early warning and risks that could come along with the multibillion project to the host communities.
Joseph Isaac Opia Onzia, the Vocational Program Officer Trail Blazers Mentoring Foundation warns the beneficiary communities to be aware of sexual harassment and exploitation of the girls and women by the company workers, teenage pregnancy, land wrangles, environmental destruction.
