By Benjamin Epeduno
KATAKWI
A section of Members of Parliament on the committee of Education and sports on Tuesday 14th of November 2023 started a countrywide fact finding mission on areas of education standards in all government secondary schools across the country.
The team that came with two parliamentary buses visited Karamoja sub region and ended up in Teso, Ngariam county in Katakwi District found that, local leaders were concerned on how the District authorities diverted the 750 million shillings meant for the phase three construction of Akoboi seed school in Akoboi sub county.
Led by the committee chairperson, Hon. Twesigye John Ntamuhiira who is also the MP for Rubirizi County, the MPs identified a lot of loopholes that need to be fixed immediately.
Twesigye said that the aim was to find out how government resources that parliament appropriated are being utilised adding that, they don’t sleep as committees during budget allocation, because every committee fights for its Ministry to be recognised as the best.
He warned the officials to desist from diverting government money that has already been appropriated by parliament for a defined work.
They recommended for an immediate investigation and arrest of officials involved in the diversion of government resources for their personal interest hence warning the District councils not to be diverted by the core principles of leadership.
For Katakwi District, specific letters be written to the LC5, CAO, District speaker, Secretary Education, DEO and District Engineer to go to Kampala on the above matter.
Hon. Peter Ogwang who was represented by Michael Malinga, said government is committed to ending such happenings in schools (diversion of monies for other works.)
The Secretary for Education in Katakwi District, Hon. Irene Among was hesitant, but only talked about the letter that was sent to the district about a seed school that is to be built in Okulonyo Sub County in Usuk County.
Among then asked the Members of Parliament to get facts from the District technical persons since they are the ones in possession of those letters.
Among the people invited were the District officials, political leaders, opinion leaders, media and head teachers with their deputies and chairpersons of PTA and BOG in the schools of Ngariam County.
