Apac: Igoti primary school reopens after deadly floods

15 November 2023, 7:56 am

By Mike Okwang Ogule & Isaac Newton Abili

Pupils at Igoti primary school in Ibuje Sub-county, Apac district are gradually getting back to class following a flood which had led to the temporary school closure which lasted for a full week.

The pronouncement of the school reopening was made by the school headteacher Mr. Okello Oscar Geoffrey when contacted by our reporter following last week’s closure.

According to Mr. Okello, over 1000 pupils were temporally sent home, “the affected learners were pupils of Primary One to Primary Six as primary seven candidates were doing Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) by the time of the incidence”, he said.

Okello attributed the flood to a heavy downpour experienced a fortnight ago which also affected two nearby villages of Itwara and Igoti all in Ibuje subcounty resulting to massive destruction of gardens and houses.

Mr. Okello also confirmed notifying the Apac district education department over the matter, he however said the school is still experiencing low turnup requesting parents to send back the pupils as they continue monitoring the floods and also pushing for cordial solution towards the cause.

According to our findings, several pit latrines have flooded resulting to its overflow to residential areas hovering worries about the risks of water borne ailments, roads has also been destroyed making it difficult to access the affected locals.

One of the parents who spoke to this publication Mr. Toga Brian expressed his anxiety towards the flood calling upon the government to quickly come up with a solution before the pupils are permanently stopped from accessing their only place of learning within the area.

The Apac district secretary education and health Mr. Sam Opira acknowledged receiving notifications about the disaster, he confirmed scheduling a meeting as education department for this coming Friday 17th/11/2023 in order to brainstorm on what to do as Apac district local government.  

In 2020, flash floods from River Nile displaced many households including Aganga health centre II also in Ibuje sub county, Apac district.