The Resident District Commissioner Kitgum, William Komakech has ordered the contractor of Labongo Amida Seed Secondary School to complete works in two weeks.
The school is a 2.55 Billion Shillings project funded by the World Bank. In 2019, the construction of the school was awarded to Zeep Construction Company.
However, construction of the school has dragged on since then, with funds for the construction returned to the consolidated fund twice.
During an emergency meeting held at the school last week, the district leaders noted that a lot of repair work needed to be done even before the construction is completed.
The walls and floor have cracks, leaking ceiling, faulty windows, and poor drainage system among others.
In the financial year 2020/2021, the district returned 437 Million Shillings to the consolidated fund because of the delayed completion of the work.
Geoffrey Komakech Alulu, the LCIII Chairperson of Labongo Amida Sub County, says the contract of Zeep Construction Company expired in July last year, and they had promised they would have completed the work.
Alulu reveals that the incomplete school has forced learners, including those in Senior Four, to study without practical subjects saying it will affect their national examination results.
He adds that the learners risk staying at home next term if the contractor does not complete the work before schools reopen.
Filda Obote Abwono, the Chairperson Board of Governors noted that the incomplete school is discouraging parents from sending their children to the school.
“The state of the school has contributed to the low enrolment of learners because a wise parent would not send their child to a school where learners keep migrating like birds,” Abowo said.
Claire Olal Acen, an Administrator at Zeep Construction Company, apologized for the delay in completing the work, blaming it on a lack of funds, and promised that they will rectify all the defects.
But Komakech says that the contractor was paid over One Billion shillings at the beginning of the contract.
He ordered the contractors to source timber in other districts and ensure that the learners start studying at the school in two weeks.
Komakech expressed fear that the over 400 million shillings for the work which was returned from the consolidated fund recently might be taken back for the third time since the financial year is almost ending.
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