KATAKWI: Ngariam Residents Protest Relocation of Technical School

By Okol Emmanuel

KATAKWI

Residents of Ngariam and Okore sub-counties in Katakwi district are up in arms against a district council resolution to relocate the Ngariam Memorial Technical Institute to Toroma County.

The institute was pledged by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in memory of 21 locals who were massacred by Karamojong warriors in 2003.

In a move to fulfill this Presidential pledge, Gov’t thru Ministry of Education and Sports released Shs 450M for the construction of the institute in Apeuru-Aodot, where the community has already donated over 200 hectares of land.

However, some district councilors, led by Marion Atim, are collecting signatures to petition the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet K-Museveni, to relocate the institute to Toroma County.

The residents are furious, stating that the resolution is politically motivated by other MPs and leaders rather than the needs of the community.

They held a peaceful demonstration on Friday, 8^th November, 2024 at the graveyard where the 21 victims were buried, demanding that the council reverses its decision or else they will walk on foot up to State House to meet President Museveni.

Local leaders, including Charles Ikabat, the LC3 chairperson for Okore Sub County and Margaret Imalingat, the district female councilor accuse some district councilors of hindering development of Ngariam County.

“This technical school is in memory of the people of Ngariam who were killed by the Karamojong, the President even visited the families of the victims and gave condolence of Shs5M each”, why relocate it to Toroma”, Ikabat said.

Hon. Angella Akengo suggests that Toroma County needs a technical school, but not a memorial one. She advises area MP Hon. Joseph Andre Koluo to work with Hon. Peter Ogwang MP for Ngariam and Minister of State for Education and Sports to lobby for another technical school in Toroma instead of diverting and relocating the one of Ngariam.

However, Geoffrey Omolo, Katakwi LC5 Chairperson, worries about the district losing the technical school due to disagreements.

“It’s very clear the school is in memory of the people who lost live’s in Ngariam. Why would we divert the school to Toroma instead of lobbying for another one. If we continue like this, the money shall be taken back”, Omolo said.

This controversy is part of a larger issue, as directly elected MPs in Katakwi district clash over government-funded projects. Voters in Ngariam question why Usuk and Toroma MPs fail to lobby for projects in their areas, instead trying to reallocate resources meant for Ngariam which Hon Ogwang lobby’s.

Last year, the same dispute sparked heated debate in council with some councillors condemning the chasing of journalists who covered the controversy.

As the community continues to protest the relocation of their technical school, the fate of the Ngariam Memorial Technical Institute remains uncertain, caught in the midst of political tensions and power struggles.

Now that the President is coming to Teso, we want him to clarify on the issue of this school.