Zombo primary schools win shs230m cash prize in NGO accountability awards

Zombo, (UG): At least seven primary schools of Oturgang Boys, Mvungu Upper, Mvungu Lower, Asina, Pakadha, Padea and Alala are set to benefit from the 230 million shillings prizes awarded by the non-governmental organization, consortium coded TRINITY that aligns Nebbi NGO Forum, Community Empowerment Forum for Development (CEFORD) and Life Concern (LICO) as a unit.

DailyExpress understands that 21 schools actively participated in the annual search for schools to be awarded in 2023  but only 7 schools emerged victorious from the two categories, five schools for school accountability and 2 schools for promotion awards which are components of the Aloci ku somu project.

The vetting processes for the awards were believed to have been judiciously transparent and based on different considerations ranging from creativity and innovation measures employed by schools to better a particular situational condition especially the provision of learning spaces and accommodation for teachers.

The overall winners in each category won 50 million shillings and other runners-up won 40 to 10 million shillings respectively.

According to Mr Kizito Kakura, the Executive Director of Life Concern who spoke to DailyExpress in a separate interview, the schools will be required to identify priorities to be funded with the money received.

“…SMC, PTA members and Headteachers should go back and plan for what they want to be done for their schools so that when we come to meet you we don’t waste a lot of time,” said Kakura.

Alex Susu, the Headteacher of Oturgang Boys Primary School, the overall winner of the school accountability awards, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the NGO consortium, noting that with the funding, they will rehabilitate the roofing on some buildings at the school.

“This prize will help to renovate (reroof)the condemned building that we temporarily improved and improvised to decongest the over 1800 pupils,” Mr Susu remarked.

The prizes won by the schools will be directly handled by CEFORD, the implementing partner and paid directly to the executioners/contractors of the different priorities identified and the schools charged with the responsibility of mobilizing local resources.

Silvio Jalar, the Zombo District Inspector of schools who represented the District Education Officer challenged the different stakeholders and school managers to embrace creativity, innovations and technology to aid teaching and learning in schools and iterated; “…let us restrategize and reposition ourselves in a way that technology doesn’t become a burden for us.”

So far now 21 schools are going to be direct beneficiaries of the Aloci ku some and its components of the annual 230 million shillings awards of prizes for 7 schools from at least 3 subcounties and town councils across Zombo district, fostering amicable learning environment and academic excellence.