Pakwach will rent boats to transport PLE candidates in flood-affected areas

Pakwach District leaders were left with no option but to hire boats to transport Primary Education Leaving Examination (PLE) candidates to areas cut off by floodwaters from tributaries of the Nile River; Kamia and Kuncwinya.

Owere Primary School in Pakwach Municipal Council and surrounding communities recently suffered a power outage due to rising water levels in the Nile River.
According to local officials, at least eight villages have been disconnected and residents cannot access health facilities, schools and markets; This is increasing fear and anxiety among some leaders ahead of the PLE starting tomorrow (November 4).

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the area, Mr Moses Dalili, told this publication that the leaders, in an emergency meeting with Pakwach Municipal Council leaders, agreed to purchase four boats for emergencies, which would cost the council over Shs2 million.

“The emergency response was undertaken to reduce the cost of crossing overflowing rivers. Students are charged Shs1,000 which is a burden for most parents and during this examination period some parents will help cross candidates,” Mr Dalili said.

He said that they informed the Prime Minister’s Office about three schools that were flooded in Owere.
Mr. Christopher Ojok, head teacher of Owere Primary School, said they registered 56 candidates. They expected more than 60 people to enroll, but the flood scared some students who dropped out.
“Although parents were paying Shs1,000 per term to facilitate the rowers, the payments were not made on time and this time arrangement was made with UNEB and other stakeholders in the area to ensure that all candidates had free transportation to school and their PLEs,” said Mr Ojok.