€140 million WASH facility project launched with site handover in Oyam

29 April 2025, 7:31 pm

By Eman Yonah oruk

A significant milestone has been achieved in Oyam District with the launch of a five-year Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Facility Project, funded by the European Union to the tune of €140 million. The site handover took place at Minakulu Primary School on 28 April 2025, during a pre-bid meeting.

Sinandugu Silvaster, an official from the Ministry of Water and Environment, outlined the project’s objective of supporting 199 schools across the country. The initiative aims to improve the transition rate of young girls from primary to secondary education by addressing critical challenges, such as the lack of adequate sanitation facilities. Many schools lack proper sanitation management systems, leading to high dropout rates among girls, especially during menstruation. To address this, the project will install nationally compliant hygiene facilities in the selected schools.

Beyond improving sanitation, the initiative will also involve constructing additional classrooms and staff houses to enhance the learning environment and encourage pupil retention. In Oyam District alone, 24 schools are set to benefit from the project.

The schools in Oyam District set to benefit include Minakulu Primary School, Dr Oryang Secondary School, Abdullah Anyuru Secondary School, Atapara Senior Secondary School, among others.

The team leader emphasised the importance of ensuring value for money in construction, advocating for high-quality outputs that will contribute to public health and local economic development. Stakeholders were urged to prioritise proper operations and maintenance to prolong the life of the facilities.

He also expressed optimism that, once in place, the new facilities would lead to reduced dropout rates and absenteeism—particularly among female pupils.

Local Council V Chairperson, Benson Dila, praised the project and its implementing partners for complementing government efforts. He called for accountability and value for money from bidders, urging schools to take responsibility for the maintenance of all newly developed infrastructure.

Similarly, Oyam’s Resident District Commissioner, Shilaku James, commended the European Union and the Ministry of Water and Environment for spearheading the initiative. He stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment that enables girls to complete their education.

Contractors were encouraged to uphold high standards and ensure the efficient use of every euro invested.

The Chairperson of the Parents-Teachers Association at Minakulu Primary School, Charlse Chong, expressed gratitude to the European Union, the Ministry, and all implementing partners for what he described as a life-changing initiative. He noted that many girls had previously dropped out due to the lack of essential changing rooms and other sanitation facilities. He urged parents of affected children to embrace the programme and return their daughters to school.

Minakulu Primary School Headteacher, Rose Alok, reported that, following recent sensitisation efforts, 15 child mothers had returned to school. However, she also highlighted ongoing challenges at the school, which has over 2,400 pupils. These include a shortage of classrooms and teaching staff. She cited the example of the Primary One class, which has 461 pupils—181 boys and 280 girls—being taught by only two teachers. If either teacher falls ill, the entire class is significantly affected. She appealed to the government and development partners to continue supporting the school in addressing these challenges.