Oyam, Uganda | Oyam District leaders have urged Kejatu Quality Services Ltd, the contractor selected to implement a UGX 3.18 billion Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure project, to uphold community safety and adhere strictly to project guidelines during the nine-month construction period.
The initiative, funded by the European Union and managed by the Ministry of Water and Environment through the Water and Sanitation Development Facility – North (WSDF-N), aims to improve learning environments in the district by constructing classrooms, dormitories, staff houses, toilets, and girls’ changing rooms.
Recently, officials from WSDF-North and local stakeholders formally handed over project sites to Kejatu Quality Services Ltd.
The works fall under Lot B, covering schools across Minakulu Town Council, Kamdini, and Aber Subcounties.
Beneficiary schools include Abdullah Anyuru Memorial College, Minakulu Primary School, Dr. Oryang Secondary School, Adel Primary School, Atapara Secondary School, Atapara West Primary School, and Amati Primary School.
Christ Ongom, Vice Chairperson LCV of Oyam, cautioned the contractor against misusing project funds or diverting them to other districts, stressing that financial indiscipline could delay the project and undermine its overall integrity.
Francis Behangana, Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Oyam, warned the contractor and technical teams against engaging in inappropriate relationships with students or married women in the community, stating that any misconduct would be met with legal action.
Brian Ogutu, LC5 Councilor for Aber Sub-County and Secretary for Works and Technical Services, encouraged the contractor to prioritize employing local labor and sourcing construction materials from within Oyam District to boost the local economy and create job opportunities.
Parents and community members welcomed the project. Alfred Otoo, a parent at Minakulu Primary School, described the infrastructure improvements as “timely and essential,” emphasizing that the new facilities would enhance both accommodation and sanitation for learners.
Responding to the concerns, James Olwal, Director of Kejatu Quality Services Ltd, pledged to execute the project responsibly, ensuring it would not negatively impact learners or surrounding communities.
The WASH project in Oyam is part of a broader regional effort in Northern Uganda to enhance educational infrastructure, promote hygiene, and create safe learning environments, contributing to the sustainable development of schools and communities.