Authorities in Amuria District have officially launched the construction of several new structures at Orungo High School, a project worth Uganda Shillings (UGX) 776 million.
The initiative is part of the Government’s support to secondary schools under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UGiFT) program.
The funding was successfully lobbied by Emmy Olaboro Ejuku, the Chief Administrative Officer of Bulambuli District and an alumnus (OB) of Orungo High School, with support from the Amuria District Local Government.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Olaboro highlighted the efforts made by former students (OBs) in securing the much-needed funding for the school’s infrastructure development.
“As OBs, we realized that Orungo High School had remained stagnant in terms of infrastructure development for many years. That prompted us to find ways of improving the school,” Olaboro stated.
Leveraging his position in government, Olaboro personally engaged the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Secretary to present the school’s case.
He noted that the OBs collected photographic evidence of the dilapidated facilities, which was crucial in convincing the authorities to approve the funding.
“I was humbled when the Permanent Secretary granted our request and allocated UGX 800 million. The money was channeled through the district because, as OBs, we do not have the systems or legal mandate to manage government funds,” he explained.
Olaboro, who has expressed his intention to contest for the Orungo County MP seat in the 2026 general elections, emphasized the importance of community ownership of the project.
“As OBs, we are happy that the government has responded to our request. Now, we want the district and the community to take full responsibility for ensuring that these facilities are successfully completed and put to good use for the benefit of the students and the entire community,” he added.
Amuria District Chairperson Moses Emabu reaffirmed the district’s commitment to improving the education sector and outlined the scope of the construction work at Orungo High School.
“The Ministry of Education conducted an assessment of original construction schools, and Orungo High School was identified as one of the most underdeveloped institutions. As a result, the government allocated UGX 776 million for infrastructure development,” Emabu stated.
The new structures under construction include: A science laboratory to enhance practical learning in science subjects, An ICT and library block to improve digital literacy and research, An administration block to facilitate school management, A kitchen to improve students’ welfare and Pit latrines to enhance hygiene and sanitation
According to Emabu, the contractor has been given a strict timeline to complete the work by June 2025, a four-month period from the launch.
“The contractor is expected to finish the work by June. We will ensure that these facilities are completed on time to support the growing student population,” he said.
Despite the current developments, Emabu acknowledged that more support is needed to fully transform Orungo High School.
“The school has seen an increase in enrollment, which means we need additional infrastructure, including a multi-purpose hall and more classrooms,” he noted.
“The school is located on a rocky area, making it difficult to drill boreholes. Students currently walk over three kilometers to fetch water. Our appeal to the government is to connect Orungo High School to the national water grid,” he urged.
The construction project faced initial delays due to land ownership disputes between the church, which owns the land, and the government. 
However, Engineer Angeret Paul Godfrey of Arch Techno Crafts Limited, the firm contracted for the project, confirmed that the issue has been resolved.
“These projects should have started in January, but there were land ownership issues between the church and the government. Fortunately, we now have all the necessary approvals and are ready to proceed,” Engineer Angeret said.
He acknowledged that the project timeline has been shortened from six months to four months due to the delay.
However, he assured stakeholders that his team is committed to completing the work on time.
Local labor will also be utilized in the construction process, although Angeret noted that some community members are reluctant to take up the available jobs.
“We face challenges in Teso, where some people are unwilling to do rigorous work. However, we will train and encourage them to participate in the project,” he added.
To guarantee the quality of work, Amuria District Works Superintendent Moses Opolot Odongo assured stakeholders that strict supervision measures have been put in place.
“The district has technical staff responsible for monitoring the project. Additionally, we have deployed a clerk of works to oversee daily progress and ensure compliance with construction standards,” Odongo stated.
He emphasized that weekly quality checks will be conducted to maintain high construction standards.
Students, teachers, and parents at Orungo High School have expressed optimism about the project. They believe the new facilities will significantly improve the learning environment.
The school Head teacher Mr. Peter Ochaga noted that the science laboratory and ICT block would enhance academic performance.
“We have struggled with inadequate facilities for years. Science subjects require practical experiments, but we have been operating without a proper lab. With this new structure, students will finally get the exposure they need,” he said.
Parents also welcomed the development, urging the district to ensure timely completion of the work.
“As parents, we are happy about these new structures. We want to see our children learning in a better environment,” said Sarah Akurut, a parent of a Senior Four student.
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This is very impressive.I thank all the stakeholders who are involved in making Orungo High School shine.
This School made me who I’m,a midst all the infrastructure challenges.
Thanks for lobbying for the infrastructure Mr.