VP Alupo Visits Former School, Donates 1000 Ironsheets

The Vice President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Jessica Alupo Epel has today visited her former O’level school St. Elizabeth Girls Kidetok.

During her visit, Alupo announced the donation of 1000 ironsheets to support the construction of the teachers houses. Her support came after the school head teacher Rev. Sr. Imalingat informing her that the school was in need of the teachers houses.

In her speech, Alupo rallied students to always be disciplined, hardworking, Godfearing, be dedicated to thier class work.

“Dedication is very important. I thank the parents again for your choice of bringing the girl children to school, and I want to call upon all the girls to keep in school and complete school, and the authorities in the district to attend to issues that cause dropout for students from primary and also secondary,” Alupo appealed.

On the Issues to do with early marriages, early pregnancies, unplanned for marriages, etc, Alupo called for proactive approaches other than, doing post -mortem.

“And this message should go to the LC1 chairpersons, because they are the ones who know every home of every girl. They are the ones who are the first to detect that there is a meeting there, and the theme of the meeting is maybe to give away the girl who is still at school. So the LC1 chairman are very fundamental in the fight against early marriages of girl children, and I would like you to support government to ensure that the girl children complete school,” she appealed.

The marriage is allowed in Uganda, but the marriage is good when the girl child has also completed school. The marriage is allowed, but it’s good when the girl child is also doing something, and the boy children should be supporters of the girl children, because when they are married and each is working and bringing something home in the evening, it makes even their livelihood easier, and it even reduces on domestic violence.”

On Agriculture, the Alupo said that, Government will continue supporting agriculture.

“The irrigation scheme the MP Opolot is talking about. Government has already launched other irrigation schemes in other parts of the country. Even the irrigation scheme of Labor will be handled by government. When we go back let’s discuss with the Minister of Agriculture so that it can be prioritized and also worked upon so that it can start benefiting the communities to produce 24 hours a day and also 12 month a year,” Alupo said.

“Government launched new programs the programs like parish development model, Emyooga, Women Fund, and Youth Livelyhoods Fund. I call upon all of you to participate and guide each other on strictly following the guidelines which are given by government because those are the programs that are deliberately tailored by government to fight poverty from the household level,” Alupo noted.

“If we fight poverty from the household level we shall all be able to attend to our needs which need money. You need money for salt, you need money for salt, you need money for other things which you cannot produce in the garden. So we are moving the whole country to the money economy so that we can money to handle the needs of people at the household level.”

Rev. Sr. Florence Imalingat while addressing the congregation noted that, in the preceding year of 2023, the educational institution successfully advanced all its students to the subsequent academic level.

She expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their collaboration, teamwork, effective governance, financial prudence, creativity, and innovation.

“We also extend our appreciation to the parents for their unwavering support and to the Member of Parliament for Pingire County, Hon. Fred Opolot, for his dedication to the school,” Sr. Imalingat said.

However she highlighted key challenges faced by the School including Insufficient Staff Accommodation saying that currently, the school is only able to accommodate 15 out of 69 staff members, necessitating substantial rental expenses.

She said so far they have managed to secure 100 bags of cement and the school aims to erect a multifunctional structure.

She also said there is need replace asbestos roofing currently in including the administration block, dormitories, and classrooms.

“Despite numerous appeals to the Ministries of Education, District Authorities, and other relevant bodies, assistance in replacing these hazardous materials has not materialized. Asbestos poses severe health risks and should be promptly replaced. Your Excellency, through your esteemed office, we kindly request assistance in acquiring approximately 1000 iron sheets for the replacement process,” Sr. Imalingat noted.

“There is an urgent need for reliable transportation within the school premises. Since the breakdown of the school lorry in 2018, the institution has been reliant on hired vehicles for study tours and trips. The long-awaited Presidential pledge for a school bus remains unfulfilled. Your Excellency, we trust that your visit will instill hope in securing the much-needed school bus, aligning with the commitments of our esteemed NRM government and our beloved President,” Sr. Imalingat reminded the Vice President.

Sr. Imalingat also highlighted a need for Government to harmonize the significant salary discrepancies existing between Science and Arts staff members, particularly affecting the predominantly science-oriented teaching staff. We humbly implore for harmonization in this regard.

“We have Inadequate Computer Facilities and ICT Infrastructure with the school possessing a mere 10 operational computers, servicing a ratio of 1:10 students. The Lower Secondary curriculum emphasizes technological proficiency and ICT skills, necessitating a substantial boost in computer resources, internet access, and an expanded computer lab.”

However the Vice President responded by adding the school more ten computers in order to cover up the existing gap.

Abeja Beatrice the Serere Vice Chairperson urged the Vice President to upgrade of Serere HCIV to a District Hospital to accommodate the burgeoning population.

Additionally, she urges the elevation of Pingire HCIII to HCIV and encourages the residents of Serere to actively engage with government programs to realize the Vision 2040 objectives.

Mr. Fred Opolot the Pingire County MP emphasized the necessity of infrastructure improvements at Kidetok Girls SS.

He donated Uganda Shillings one million to support the construction of the teachers houses.

He also appealed to the government to facilitate the provision of suitable boats and fishing nets for fishermen.

Furthermore, he advocates for the establishment of fishing ponds within communities to enhance household incomes and government’s assumption of the Labor Irrigation scheme is sought to benefit the residents of Pingire County.