Uringi SS at 58: Appeals for Lifeline as Aging Buildings Crumble

What the report says

Uringi Senior Secondary School in Nebbi District is seeking support from government, alumni and other well-wishers to renovate deteriorating school facilities as it marked 58 years of operation. According to Nile Post, the appeal was made during an anniversary event held on Saturday under the theme “Investing in Academic Excellence,” with the school using the occasion to reconnect with former students and mobilize help for phased repairs.

The school, founded in 1968 and later becoming government-aided in 1981, says its classroom blocks, dormitories and library were built decades ago and are now in poor condition. Headteacher Kennedy Paul Picho said the institution serves 543 learners and has 32 teachers, with 22 on the government payroll and 10 paid through the PTA. He also said the school receives a termly capitation grant of Shs24.5 million, but that the amount is not enough to cover the needs of a large boarding school and major rehabilitation work.

Picho said the school’s current library is no longer a proper library and needs upgrading. He added that renovation would likely have to happen in stages because resources are limited. The school also highlighted some academic progress, including students who recently earned district quota placements, as it seeks to balance performance goals with infrastructure needs.

Former students and district leaders said the anniversary offered a chance to strengthen ties with the school. The old students’ association said it had supported earlier repairs and remained committed to helping. The report places Uringi’s challenge in a broader context of aging educational infrastructure in parts of West Nile, where older schools continue to face funding and maintenance pressures.