Pakwach Leaders Hire Boats to Transport PLE Candidates

Leaders in Pakwach District have resorted to hiring boats to transport Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) candidates from Owere Primary School in Pakwach Town Council, which is currently cut off due to rising water levels from the River Nile.

According to district leaders, eight villages have been cut off from essential services such as health facilities, schools, and marketplaces due to flooding. This situation has raised fears of potential delays in delivering exam papers if not urgently addressed.

Pakwach District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Moses Dalili, explained, "Following the emergency meeting held with Pakwach Town Council leaders, leaders have agreed to procure four boats, which will cost the council over two million Shillings, but for the emergency, two boats will be hired to transport P.7 candidates of Owere Primary School in Pakwach Town Council."

Dalili further noted, “The emergency response was made to reduce the cost of crossing the flooding rivers from Shillings 1000, which wasn’t easy for parents to meet, and during this exam period, some parents will be helping to cross the candidates.”

He also shared that the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has been informed about the three schools, including Owere in Pakwach District, currently impacted by rising water levels from the River Nile and Lake Albert, and emphasized the need for emergency funds for relocation.

The Town Clerk of Pakwach Town Council, Stephen Wakonga, confirmed, "Council has approved the procurement of four boats, but at the moment, the council will have to hire two emergency boats to transport P.7 candidates of the affected school, Owere Primary School."

Wakonga added, “The plan to procure boats for the affected communities was long overdue, but for an emergency call, we have to hire boats for the P.7 candidates who are starting their PLE national exams next week.”

He further explained that historically, the area had been claimed by floods, with the first major flood occurring in 1962, displacing entire communities in Amor East. This time, the worst-hit villages include Patwee Central, Gudi, Pujwang Central, Pujwang East, and Koi Cell.

“This time around, we thought of relocating the school, but if we relocated the school, it was going to disorganize the whole candidates and also be quite expensive due to the allocation of funds from the center,” Wakonga said.

Christopher Ojok, the head teacher of Owere Primary School, noted that the school could have registered over 60 candidates if not for the flooding; however, they registered only 56, with one student dropping out in the second term.

“Though parents were paying shs 1000 per term to facilitate the rowers, the payments were not timely. This time around, the arrangement was made with UNEB and other stakeholders in the district to ensure all the candidates are transported freely to the school for their PLE,” Ojok said.