‘BUILDINGS NOT CLASSROOMS’: ADJUMANI’S AMELO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
By Bazio Doreen
What started off as lyrics/rumors in campaign songs has finally made its way into boardroom discussions and can now have a full Permanent Secretary brave an 8 hours’ drive on a murram dusty potholed road to find out facts. The masked rot and impunity at Adjumani’s Amelo Technical Institution is one that speaks for itself when one visits the institution. However, for one to understand why almost seven years later, the institution is only a shadow of other 11 counterparts countrywide, unearthing the truth goes beyond speaking to people that have access to the facility.
When Amelo Technical Institute was started in 2015 under the umbrella of Business Technical Vocational Education and Training Institution (BTVET) Strategic Plan of skilling Ugandans, many parents had hope that vocational education had been brought closer and would perhaps be cost effective. Located in Pakele Sub County, Adjumani District, West Nile Region, the institute is being hosted by the District Farm Institute along Adjumani – Gulu highway. However, its cardinal location (original buildings) is in Amelo Village, Adjumani Central Parish, Adjumani Town Council.
Many dreams of students in courses like: National Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics, National Certificate in Electrical Installation, National Certificate in Building Construction Planning, National Certificate in Tailoring and Garment Design, National Certificate in Welding and Metal Fabrication; now lie in uncertainty. The school had its first and last graduates in 2019 under a program sponsored by one of its then partners, ENABEL. We like to blame COVID-19 for everything that has gone wrong in the past few years but is Amelo’s case the same?
How trouble started
The Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni, was disappointed in 2015 when she visited the district to commission the institute after she found out that the work done was substandard. She tasked the Principal to vacate the premises and that is how the school ended up setting a base at the District farm institute.
“The building was not handed over. There is no boys’ dormitory. Plumbing and land scaping had not yet been done. We had occupied but she asked us to vacate.” Principal Ben Charles Kamba explains what happened.
Although some technocrats argue that the Minister had only come to inspect works carried out by her Ministry; why would someone inspect works when a building has already been occupied. However, in the space of about 5 years, 3 contractors abandoned the site until the District Leadership wrote a protest letter to the Minister that saw a Chinese firm finish the pending works. But the works stalled again after the last contractor lost the battle to COVID-19.
This was probably one of the reasons why the District Chairperson then (2016), Mr. Leku James Pili, and the Member of Parliament, Adjumani West Constituency, Gen. Moses Ali, got involved in the stewardship of the institution as part of the Board of Directors. They served alongside the current District Vice Chairperson, Mr. Kaijuka Richard Arthur; and current LCIII Chairperson – Pakelle Sub County, Mr. Kenyi Welborne.
Observers say this move brought more harm than good and cost the District Chairperson his seat in the just concluded elections because all the ill and impunity that took place was attributed to them as God fathers. However, Mr. Leku denies all these accusations.
“We only wanted to build a strong board with political influence. When we realized the institution had picked up, we quit in observance of the law.” Mr. Leku argues
After they had barely left, the Principal wrote a letter to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports on 5th August 2016 indicating that Mr. Okot Bala Nelson, an instructor had abandoned duty for some months. Consequently, the then CAO, Mawejje Andrew, instituted a 3-member team on 26th October 2016 consisting of the officers from the Internal Audit Unit, Human Resource and the Education department to carry out an audit of the utilization of grants as well as verify the allegations. The institution then replied requesting the CAO to give them some time since the Principal had just got an accident and was still under medication which seemed ironical since they were the first to write to the Ministry about the abandonment of duty by the instructor.
“…. after the consultation and communication with the Principal …who everybody heard and witnessed of his unexpected accident and still under medication has authorised me to write that your coming is welcomed but needs his presence” the reply letter from the Deputy Principal read in part
Audit findings
The audit was later done on 20th December 2016 and it was verified from the attendance book that indeed Mr. Okot had abandoned duty. It was also discovered that all accounting records and non- accounting records were locked in the Principal’s office who at the time of the audit was still absent.
The audit team were told that the keys were kept in Kampala with the Principal’s brother who would turn up with them as and when need arises. The bursar also confessed that he had no cash book for the government grants.
Another audit done on 5th November 2020 though obstructed also found that no proper learning and teaching was ongoing. Indeed, CAO Jack Byaruhanga later wrote to the Permanent Secretary on 2nd June 2021 about poor governance at the school after the partners like FAWE, NRC, ENABEL, GIZ sponsoring students there withdrew their support and further tasked her to institute a fact finding mission.
The Permanent Secretary only bowed to pressure on 29th April 2022 when she claimed to be a fact finding mission but in reality she was left with no choice after a council resolution under minute:31/OCM/11/03/2022 to transfer the Principal elsewhere and protest letters written by both the District Chairperson, Mr. Anyama Ben, on 28th March 2022 and his political rival Gen. Moses Ali on 4th April 2022 who wrote to the Minister of Local Government and Minister of Education respectively.
Situation
The District Chairperson in his letter among other things further cited: loss, disappearance and under utilisation of assets (solar panels, portable generator, pick up vehicle, beds); loss of Friesian cows, 8 out of 60 goats; exodus of 12/23 staff; non-functionality of the Board of directors; only 43 out of 150 students available; withdrawal of funding by NGOs; stalled projects and denial of stakeholders to access the institute for audit and inspection.
“There are only 6 courses and 2 classrooms. The factual enrollment on ground is different from the one portrayed. The school management has a poor relationship with the community around” reveals Mr. Dralada Kennedy, the LC1 Chairperson Amelo Village.
The District Council in its 11th March 2022 sitting tasked the CAO to institute and audit into the allegations – which was indeed later done on 18th April 2022 and thereafter sat again on 30th March 2022 where it recommended the suspension of the Principal based on the reasons of: Abuse of office, Mal-Administration, Incompetence of the Principal and lack of accountability and transparency.
“We want the Principal to step aside and allow for proper investigations to be carried out on all the accusations raised” the Secretary for Education, Kaijuka Richard Arthur advised.
The first District Council sitting followed a petition from the Student’s Guild as well as a meeting with the school staff and students chaired by the Woman Member of Parliament, Adjumani, Ms. Ababiku Jesca. On the other hand, during the 5th ordinary council meeting held on March 30, 2022, Kaijuka, informed the council that Gen. Moses Ali had dragged his feet in the earlier council resolution.
In a petition dated 1st March 2022 signed by the 12-member Student Guild and addressed to the District Education Officer, they accuse the Principal of abseentism and poor management. They further state that under his leadership they paid for certain things and never received them, received their uniforms on the day for sitting examinations and engineering students sat for an engineering paper but studied technical drawing.
“We need a change from hell to paradise. The Principal has over stayed his welcome. We have seen all the bad things physically; we are not imagining” the Vice Guild President, Mr. Alule Stephen cries out
“He scares us with suspension and expulsions such that we don’t express ourselves anywhere. We have suffered enough with him. We thought things would change but they keep worsening. We can’t continue with him” the Guild Speaker, Ms Ajio Olivia laments
In another protest letter, dated 4th April 2022, the Board of Governors, also accuse the Principal of blocking them from executing their duties and holding meetings as mandated. They also informed the CAO how this makes them unable to guide and advise on the next course of action after the Principal had been assaulted on 30th March 2022 at the school premises at around 3pm by a group of about 20 young men. However, the Secretary for Social Services and DLC Arinyapi Sub County, Sabuni John, thinks it might be a pay back from some disgruntled staff of workers.
“I think he was beaten by boys who did some work for him and he refused to pay them or some of the staff that keep leaving.” Sabuni argues
One such staff could be the School Bursar who has since resumed work and disowned a resignation letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary on 25th April 2022, the same day that the Ministry said it would send a team to the district in the next 3 days on a fact finding mission. Mr. Tugumisirize Augustine, had clearly stated poor working environment as one of the reasons for his departure before he made a U-turn and refuses to discuss the issue.
Accusations
Observers say his change of mind could be that he was compromised by the pending visit of the Ministry’s Fact finding mission and the break-in into his office a day after he wrote the resignation letter. According to another letter dated 27th April 2022, about the incident, Augustine says he was informed that the Principal ordered for the break in and changed the locks.
However, according to the CAO, the Principal has already sent him a WhatsApp message saying that the Ministry was equally auditing him and thus all the books of account were in Kampala. In the same message, the Principal had also said that he had been beaten by thugs and was receiving treatment in Kampala 2 days after the break in.
Although, he was present to attend to the fact finding team from the Ministry, he had a cloth wrapped around his neck and was using a walking stick. The CAO also further reveals that the Ministry of Local Government called him and tasked him to explain why he meddling in the affairs of the institute and thus from then, he decided to just watch on and do nothing much since the council had already made a resolution and gone ahead to make an effort to implement it.
The 2nd Deputy Prime Minister had written to the Minister for Local Government, Mr. Raphael Magyezi, accusing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Adjumani, Mr. Grandfield Omonda, of interference in the management affairs of the institute.
“My attention has been drawn to a letter Ref. CR/252/01 dated March 17, 2022 wherein the CAO Adjumani district local government directed head of internal audit, Adjumani district to conduct a special audit into the operations of Amelo technical Institute” Gen said.
Gen Ali said, Amelo technical institute is established in accordance with the provisions of the business, technical, vocational education and training act, 2008 which is directly supervised by the Ministry of Education and Sports adding that the letter by the CAO is in contravention of section 15(1) of the National Audit Act 2008 which mandates the Auditor General to audit Central Government.
“The purpose of this letter is therefore, to bring this matter to your attention so that you can prevail on the CAO Adjumani to desist from interfering in the management of Amelo technical Institute” Ali added.
Such coincidental acts of the Principal always being sick whenever an audit arises has made some people indeed believe in his threats that he has people or persons in high places protecting him.
“He told us that we won’t be able to finish this war because he has a rock in the Ministry of Education. He then gave me and the Guild Speaker 300,000/= each and promised to take us to watch the AFCON final if we stopped pursuing the petition.” Alule narrates
“The only thing that can explain how this rot has been going on for years is that he is conniving with people in the Ministry. He keeps saying he is leaning against a hard rock” Sabuni argues
“Gen. Moses Ali should have guided the district chairman if there were gaps in the council resolution, because any antagonism amid Gen. Moses Ali and the district council will have adverse consequences on the development progress of the district.” the Former Secretary for Education and District Vice Chairperson, Anyanzo John Ambayo advises.
“We should give the Ministry a benefit of doubt but expect a decisive solution to this matter. There is overwhelming tension about this matter and there is no more room for a god father.” Deputy Resident District Commisioner, Mr. Angupale Swadiq observes.
Concerns
This is not the first time a similar audit or move is done against the principal. The only difference is that this time, the District Chairperson and the only Minister in the district are not friends and thus have to work separately to resolve the issue. While it appears that it is a war of egos and political authority or power over the matter, one has a tainted name regarding the matter that he has to rebuild while the other has a campaign pledge to fulfil. While the students, parents and staff are hoping that whoever wins sincerely has them at heart and will indeed sort out the mess and give them hope again. But what do the technical people in this matter say.
The District Education Officer, Mr. Dima Robert, says that the Ministry should come clear on what the district can or can’t do because it seems like the law is applied selectively.
“I want the Ministry to make it categorically clear whether my office can inspect the institute because on many occasions the District Inspector of Schools is turned away by the Principal.” The DEO reveals
The District Internal Auditor, Mr. Akuba Denis, also observes that it is time wasting to always set up audits whose findings are never implemented.
“This is not the first time we are attempting to resolve such issues. In 2016, we tried it and failed and have since failed since then because the Principal seems untouchable.” Akuba observes
Defense
The Principal however insists that he represents government and thus should be providing services to the people. He also describes all the accusations as false allegations and power struggles and is optimistic that the fact finding report will vindicate him.
Recommendation
When the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Ketty Lamaro, visited the district on the fact finding mission, she left many people talking in whispers. She met the staff and the principal in closed door meetings and no one seems to know what was discussed. In the meeting with district leaders and technical staff, she also failed to pronounce herself on the mandate of the district on whether or not they can do audits and inspection. While she toured the original site, she said she didn’t see any major reasons why the Minister had ordered for the institute to vacate. She also said she believed the issues raised could easily be solved in a stakeholders’ meeting. She however, promised to inform the district leadership on what their final decision as regards to their resolution and recommendation.
Future
With the visible dilapidated structures, rusted equipment, management crisis, exodus of students, staff and implementing partners and the never ending battles between the Principal and stakeholders; one could argue that the god father, whoever they may be, has reduced an institute from classrooms to buildings and what they may now only be interested in is ensuring that their name is never mentioned because there is clearly nothing much to benefit from anymore. Amelo Technical Institute could become a castle built on sand if the Ministry continues to drag its feet in solving the mess
END.