DISPUTED TEREGO MADI OKOLLO BORDER SCHOOLS RECEIVE CAPITATION GRANTS AFTER TWO YEARS

By Morish Dramadri

Arua

After two years of struggling without finances, the three schools in the disputed Terego-Madi Okollo districts borders have finally received UPE capitation grants under Terego district.

For the last two financials years of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, the three schools of Ocea, O’dobu in Uriama sub county and Ariwa primary in O’dupi sub county all in Terego district were running without UPE capitation grants as their funds were shifted from the accounts of Terego district to Madi Okollo district due to the undefined boundary between the two refugee hosting districts.

This made the schools to operate only on the funds raised locally by parent for development under the Parents Teachers Association, PTA.

Cyprian Lemaku the head teacher of Ocea primary school in Ocea village, Katiku parish Uriama Sub County confirmed that the school received the first bunch of the grant in June this year under Terego district. “At the start of term two, thing were really very hard financially but the two authorities of Madi Okollo and Terego sat together to solve the issues, the money which was transferred from Terego side to Madi Okollo has just been transferred into our accounts in Terego and currently now, the issue of finances as far as UPE capitation grant is concerned is now solved,” Lemaku confirmed.

Equally, Anguyo Mackey Francis the head teacher of Odobu primary school disclosed receiving the funds and a circular confirming their budget under Terego district for this 2024/25 financial year. “O’dobu received Shs.44, 719,000million for the Fy 2022/23 which we have already accessed, for the FY 2023/24 also we have got the money in the bank, we now got a circular letter from Terego district that the three schools of O’dobu, Ocea and Ariwa are now included in the budget for the FY2024/25 and from the circular we have seen we are already budgeted in Terego,” Mackey unveiled.   

The disputed between Terego and Madi Okollo caused a great impact on the institutions within the area including Ocea market.

Hon. Okot Erema Vincent the local council 3 chairman of Uriama Sub County in Terego district recalled the struggle for peace in the area and appealed for the calmness in the area to be maintained. “There are three border reaffirmation activities that have taken place and all the three reaffirmation done by the ministry have all always confirmed the same that this is really a scientific thing which a human being cannot manipulate, the situation in Ocea is really calm and we are happy of it because the beneficiaries of these institutions do not only come from Terego, whoever really destroys the peace of people down there does not do so only for the people of Terego,” Erema stressed. 

The border conflict between Terego and Madi Okollo districts that has dragged since 1990s has not yet realized full resolution by ministry of local government though the community have kept calm.
 
 

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