President Museveni promised Sir Samuel Baker support but it was being released to a wrong account which has affected planned activity implementation. Photo by GNNA Editor
By Simon Wokorach
Gulu
The shs3.9b sent for rehabilitating Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School [SS] in Gulu City have been returned thrice to the national treasury.
Alfred Okwonga the City Mayor said the shs3.9b was part of the shs5b that President Yoweri Museveni in 2020 authorized to be given for the rehabilitation of the traditional school.
Okwonga disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has for the past three years been releasing money into the Gulu District Local Government account, instead of Gulu City where the school is, which has affected the utilization of the funds.
“Our negotiations with Gulu district local government for re-channeling the funds to the City council have failed several times as money got back to the national treasury,” Okwonga said.
Okwonga added that the transition between the two local governments has affected service delivery within the city due to a lack of policy guidelines to be followed.
“We have written to the ministry of local government requesting them for the money to be reallocated to the city account and we are waiting for the response,” Okwonga added.
Purpose of the funds
The funds were meant to help in repairing four blocks of teachers’ houses. It was also meant to construct eight more blocks of teachers’ houses, a school library, and an art center.
It was also to finance the establishment of two new playgrounds, a 25-meter international swimming pool, the replacement of old electricity poles, and the building of four water substations.
Simon Wilfred Torach, the head teacher of Sir Samuel Baker School, revealed that the assessment of the old structures at the school was done three years ago following a recommendation from the Ministry of Education, but some of the teachers’ houses have remained dilapidated while others have collapsed.
Torach argued that the approved projects within the school could have been completed within three years.
District admits lack of coordination
Francis Okello Rwotlonyo, the chairperson of Sir Samuel Baker Old Boys Association, appealed to the two administrative units to collaborate as they wait for the guidelines for property share.
“We have been in dialogue with Gulu District but the leaders didn’t perceive it positively and money kept going back,” Rwotlonya said.
Rwotlonyo revealed that as the school still awaits funding from the government, the alumni will soon launch a fundraising drive for renovating the dormitories. He said the construction committee is already assessing to determine the cost of the rehabilitation.
He said the proposed infrastructural developments will win back confidence of learners and past glory of the school.
According to Rwotlonyo, they aim to attract more than 1,000 learners in the next two years, contrary to the current 500 students with 38 classroom teachers.
Samuel Lagu, the Gulu District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, acknowledged the lack of coordination in handling the funds, but added that the Gulu district is following up the matter.
Christopher Opiyo Ateker, the Gulu district chairperson, similarly noted with concern the absence of policy guidelines on property sharing between Gulu City and Gulu district.
Minister advises accounting officers
Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of Local Government, said the fund had been going to the account of Gulu District Local Government instead of Gulu City’s account, so it had to be returned to the national treasury.
“It isn’t the fault of the District or the City, but the money went to the wrong entity. It isn’t money lost, and the accounting officers know the procedures well with the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Let them follow the process, it isn’t money lost,” Magyezi explained.
The school’s background
Sir Samuel Baker School sits on 642 acres of land in Gulu City a few kilometers along Gulu-Kitgum road.
The school was constructed with generous contributions from the people of Northern Uganda between 1948 and 1953 and commissioned by British Governor, Andrew Cohen, in 1953 under the British Protectorate.
The school derived its name from the British Explorer Samuel Baker who helped to end the slave trade through his military expedition in the Nile Equatorial regions stretching far from Egypt to Northern Uganda.
Sir Samuel Baker School attained a high reputation for uplifting education standards in the region at the time.
