By Emmanuel Olinga
KATAKWI
Two pupils of Ocwiin Primary School in Okoore Sub County, Katakwi district are nursing injuries at Ocwiin trading Centre clinic, after they sustained injuries caused by strong winds on Monday, 24th February 2024 which blew four classroom roofs.
James Etimu Elesu, the deputy head teacher who witnessed the incident, says the strong winds last week on Thursday at around 2:50 Pm attempted to blow the school with Primary three classroom roofs blown halfway. He says again on Monday evening at around 4:16 Pm while they returned for remedial lessons, the strong winds came in the eastern direction blowing up all four classroom roofs.
Etimu highlighted that it was God’s Grace, that the two children only sustained injuries. Lydia Atim a pupil of P5 got dislocation around her knee in the cause of running outside and James Alemukori a P5 pupil sustained foot injury after stepping on timber with a nail.
Last week again on Thursday five minors also sustained minor injuries on different body parts, some on scruples, heads, hands as timber hit them and others while struggling to vacate the classroom.
Etimu says all four classes of Primary One, primary Two, Primary three, and primary five are roofless leaving primary four, six and primary seven.
He says these winds have left them stranded with over 440 pupils out of an enrollment of 640 learners adding that by Tuesday 25, February, 2025, teachers will start conducting classes under trees due to wind effects.
“The trees that we hope as an alternative I see trees have also shaded leaves that would eventually call for immediate rescue”. Etimu said.
Samuel Osinge, Speaker Okoore Sub County has called for immediate response from district authorities. He asked the government to come to their rescue by providing them with temporary tents for classrooms.
Osinge says the classrooms built in 2004 are very old and weak because the rest of the building’s floors and walls have cracked and lost cement floor.
He says they have already communicated to the District Education Officer and Inspector of schools to advice on the alarming situation.
However, the District Education Department that was called over the matter promised to reach to the school on Tuesday 25th February, 2024 for intervention.
