Over 1,000 Pupils at Risk as Aketo Primary School Appeals for Urgent Support

11 September 2026, 3:51 pm

By Odongo Daniel and Ogolo Ian Smith

Aketo Primary School in Apac District has appealed to the government, non-governmental organisations and other well-wishers for urgent assistance after a storm damaged the school’s infrastructure and destroyed learning materials.

The storm struck on the night of Thursday, September 3, 2026, damaging the roof of the school’s main building and the headteacher’s office. Several books, files, and teaching and learning aids were also destroyed, while solar equipment installed at the school was affected.

Aketo Primary School Headteacher Patrick Agole said the school had submitted a detailed report on the damage and losses to district authorities and the Red Cross but had yet to receive assistance.

“The school has not yet received any assistance from the government or other well-wishers to help restore the learning environment,” Agole said.

With the third academic term expected to begin in three days, Agole said the school was concerned about its preparedness to receive more than 1,000 pupils.

Apac District Secretary for Education Jasper Odongo said the district was assessing the extent of the damage and considering how best to assist the school.

Odongo said the incident should not disrupt learning, adding that the district would work with churches, well-wishers and other stakeholders to mobilise support.

The damage has also renewed concerns about the vulnerability of schools in Apac during the rainy season, particularly those exposed to strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Some stakeholders have called for more trees to be planted around schools to serve as windbreaks and help protect buildings from storms.

Speaking to Radio Apac last week, Ibuje Sub-county LC3 Chairperson Alex Ogota attributed repeated storm damage to the lack of trees around schools.

Ogota cited a similar incident earlier this year at Igoti Primary School, where strong winds blew off the roof of a classroom block. He said the school also lacked trees that could help reduce the impact of strong winds and appealed to stakeholders to support efforts to protect school infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Maruzi County Member of Parliament, who was contacted during a community focus programme on Radio Apac on Friday morning, confirmed receiving reports about the damage at Aketo Primary School.

The MP said he was yet to receive detailed information from district leaders but planned to engage the Minister of Education and Sports and the minister responsible for disaster preparedness on the matter on Tuesday.

Last month, the government supplied 400 iron sheets to support the re-roofing of Igoti and Chakali Primary Schools, whose roofs were also destroyed by strong winds.