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Tororo Parents Protest School Demolition, Demand Relocation Plan

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Tororo Parents Protest School Demolition, Demand Relocation Plan
One of protesters with placards

Parents of Morukatipe View Primary School in Tororo are protesting plans by municipal authorities to demolish the school to make way for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.

They demand that alternative land for the school be secured before any action is taken.

The protests, led by PTA chairperson Stephen Olele, have intensified as parents reject a proposal to temporarily relocate pupils to Amagoro Primary School, citing the long distance and logistical challenges, especially for young children.

Instead, they insist on having temporary classrooms set up at a yet-to-be-identified location closer to their homes.

“We can't accept our school to be demolished before authorities show us alternative land where it will be relocated. This is not acceptable, and we won’t allow it,” declared Joseph Emoron, one of the parents.

Adding to the tension is the revelation that over 1.1 billion shillings, allocated for the school’s relocation, has not been utilised.

While municipal authorities report that the UPDF engineering brigade has been contracted at a cost of over 400 million shillings, no land has been secured for the new school.

Teddy Makola, The municipal education officer listening to protestors

Government guidelines require a minimum of four acres to establish an aided primary school, yet parents claim no progress has been made in acquiring the necessary land.

Tororo Municipal Education Officer, Mrs. Teddy Ajuma Makola, defended the decision to temporarily relocate pupils to Amagoro Primary School, emphasizing the urgency of ensuring uninterrupted learning.

“We want to make sure the children finish primary school. Amagoro is safer than placing them in an undeveloped area without proper facilities, which could disrupt their studies,” Mrs. Makola explained.

She urged parents to cooperate, warning that prolonged conflict could affect the pupils' psychological well-being.

District leaders echoed her call for patience, assuring parents that relocation funds would be used appropriately and promising a new school within a few months.

Despite these assurances, parents remain unconvinced. They demand a clear timeline and action plan for relocating the school.

“This is not just about education; it’s about the future of our children. We cannot allow the school to be demolished without a proper plan in place,” said a concerned parent.

As the SGR project timeline nears, the future of Morukatipe View Primary School hangs in the balance.

Parents, authorities, and district leaders must find a solution soon to prevent further escalation and ensure the students' education is safeguarded.

For now, the community waits to see whether authorities will meet their demands or proceed with demolition, risking heightened backlash.

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