Abakadyak school appeals for emergency aid after storm destroys classrooms

Abakadyak Primary School in Lamwo district is seeking immediate assistance after strong winds blew off the roof of a classroom block, exposing three classes to the elements.

The destruction, which occurred on March 30, displaced more than 200 pupils from Primary Three to Primary Five at the school located in Storebo village, Abakadyak parish, Aceba sub-county.

The incident has raised concerns in the community, as the extent of the damage exceeds their financial ability to repair the facility.

Abakadyak Primary School is a government-aided institution serving 448 pupils from Primary One to Primary Seven, all residents of Aceba sub-county.

According to the school head teacher, Acen Beatrice, the most affected buildings include the lower and upper primary blocks that housed P3, P4, and P5 classes, along with the multipurpose office block and staff room.

With schools scheduled to reopen on May 20, 2025, the lack of adequate learning space presents a significant challenge.

“Although no injuries were recorded during the incident, we lost a lot of school property including furniture, textbooks, and important office equipment,” Acen said.

She added that the school has temporarily moved the affected learners into a single classroom while others are being taught under trees.

Otema Richard, chairperson of the School Management Committee, confirmed that they have contacted the district authorities and are awaiting feedback.

However, he expressed frustration over the silence from the district office despite being aware of the situation.

Onen Phillip, vice chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), described the incident as unfortunate, noting that PTA funds had already been used for other school activities.

He emphasized the difficulty in raising more funds from parents and appealed to the district and well-wishers for support.

Lamwo District Education Officer, Banabas Langoya, stated that he plans to visit the school with a technical team to assess the damage.

However, he acknowledged the lack of emergency funds for immediate repairs, citing government funding restrictions and bureaucratic delays as major challenges.

“We are aware of the situation at Abakadyak Primary School, but as a district, we do not have an emergency fund to fix the problem,” Langoya said.

The incident occurred amidst ongoing heavy rains and strong winds in the Acholi sub-region.

The Uganda Meteorological Authority’s April 2025 report stated that the month is typically characterized by peak seasonal rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning across much of the country.