Construction of Palabek Kal Community Secondary School in Palabek Kal sub-county, Lamwo district, has reached about 87 per cent completion.

The government expecting the project to become the first of the Ministry of Education and Sports’ ongoing secondary school projects in the district to be completed and handed over.

The school is being constructed at a cost of more than shs3 billion under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), with support from the World Bank.

The project is being implemented by Newton Technical Services Limited, which took possession of the site in September 2025 under a 10-month contract.

Engineer Justine Odong, a project manager with the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the original contract period expired in July 2026, but the contractor was granted an extension until November 2, 2026, after encountering challenges, including variations and changes to the site layout.

Odong said the contractor now has limited time to complete the remaining works and warned that the ministry would not grant another extension.

“As a ministry, we are not going to give them an additional extension of time and they should make sure they work round the clock to ensure that whatever remains to be finished is finished within the remaining time,” Odong said.

He said some construction sites in Lamwo present physical challenges, including rocky and waterlogged ground, which can affect implementation.

Odong, however, urged project stakeholders to resolve design-related issues before contractors commence construction to minimise delays, variations and additional costs.

Lamwo Resident District Commissioner William Komakech said completion of Palabek Kal Community Secondary School would mark an important milestone for the district.

Komakech said the school was expected to become the first among the secondary school projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Education and Sports in Lamwo to be completed and handed over.

He commended the government and the Ministry of Education and Sports for investing in education infrastructure in the district and urged the contractor to complete the remaining works within the agreed timeframe.

Komakech, however, raised concern over delays affecting other government school projects in the district.

He cited Padibe East Secondary School, which he said had remained incomplete for more than five years despite government investment in the project.

Komakech called for closer supervision and accountability in the implementation of education infrastructure projects to ensure learners benefit from government investments within a reasonable timeframe.

Meanwhile, Lamwo District Community Development Officer Nyeko Wilfred has urged the contractor to increase the participation of women from surrounding communities in the remaining construction activities.

Nyeko made the call during an inspection of the project, saying increased participation of women was among the requirements for projects supported by the World Bank.

He urged the contractor to provide women with opportunities in activities that can be undertaken by local workers before the project is completed.

The director and site engineer of Newton Technical Services Limited, Muragesh Hiremath, said the contractor would involve more women in the remaining works, including planting Paspalum grass, cleaning, landscaping and other light activities.

Also read: Govt to construct three secondary schools in Lamwo

Hiremath said most of the initial construction activities involved heavy work, which limited opportunities for women.

He said some women had previously been employed on the project but had left, prompting the contractor to recruit others.

The contractor also said a female health, safety and environment officer had previously been employed but later left the project.

Hiremath pledged to continue encouraging women to participate in suitable activities during the remaining phase of construction.

The Palabek Kal school project is part of the government’s wider investment in education infrastructure aimed at increasing access to secondary education and improving learning facilities in underserved communities.

With the project now at about 87 per cent completion, the contractor is expected to complete the outstanding works by November 2, 2026, after which the school could become the first of the Ministry of Education and Sports’ ongoing secondary school projects in Lamwo to be handed over.