Rains destroy classrooms, staffroom at Adoo Primary School in Pader

21 September 2025, 19:44

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Heavy rains accompanied by violent winds have left Adoo Primary School in Acholibur Sub-County, Pader District in ruins, destroying two classrooms and the staffroom, forcing urgent appeals for government intervention.

The storm, which struck on August 26, 2025, ripped off the roofs of Primary Two and Three classrooms as well as the staffroom, leaving learners without shelter.

On Friday, September 19, during the commissioning of the 9.5-kilometer Okinga–Adoo road, school authorities’ appeals were reechoed to district leaders, urging a swift response to the destruction.

According to Okumu Walter, the Vice Chairperson of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), the disaster also damaged essential teaching materials.

“We lost the solar panel installed on the building and several books in the staffroom. We appeal to the government to replace the lost property and urgently renovate the classrooms,” Okumu said.

Okumu further called on the government to resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike, which has kept pupils at home since schools reopened last week.

“If the strike ends without classrooms being repaired, our children will have nowhere to learn from,” he added.

Lamwaka Esther, the school’s Deputy Headteacher, echoed these fears, warning that the displaced learners may face prolonged interruptions in their education if immediate repairs are not made.

She further noted that the school lacks portable blackboards, making it difficult for teachers to conduct lessons under trees or in makeshift shelters.

“Even if we move classes under the shade, there are no portable blackboards for the children to learn from,” she stressed.

Eng. Lubang Benedict, the District Engineer, revealed that the school’s headteacher had reported the matter to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), who then tasked him with assessing the damage.

“My findings show that at least 28 million shillings will be needed for repairs. The CAO has already written to the Office of the Prime Minister’s Disaster Management Department seeking assistance,” he said.

Lubang added that the district is prepared to undertake the work “on force account,” citing previous successful repairs at St. Kizito, Awere, which were managed locally.

Meanwhile, Hon. Komakech Christopher, the Member of Parliament for Aruu County, pledged to coordinate with Aruu North MP Hon. Santa Okot to fast-track the appeal in Kampala.

“We shall follow up the CAO’s letter with the Office of the Prime Minister to ensure that funds are released immediately,” Komakech assured.

The destruction at Adoo Primary School highlights the vulnerability of rural education infrastructure to extreme weather events, which continue to disrupt learning for thousands of pupils across Northern Uganda.

For now, the fate of Adoo’s learners hangs in the balance as they wait for classrooms to be restored.