child friendly environment in uganda - amuru district 2010

in Northern Uganda

Child Friendly Environment

AMURU DISTRICTA PictoriAl R E p o R t

From the People of Japan

the republic of Uganda

in Northern Uganda

Child Friendly Environment

AMUrU DiStrict

A pictorial Report


the republic of Uganda

Published forUNicEF UgandaP.o Box 7047, Kampala, Uganda

coWi ltDcrusader HouseP.o Box 10591Kampala, Uganda

By: Advanced communications ltd,P.o Box 11670, Kampala, UgandaE-mail: info@advancedcommunications-ea.comwww.advancedcommunications-ea.com

©UNicEF Uganda. the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of UNicEF and her partners.

table of contents

lacaro P7 Primary School 10

lalar Primary School 11

lamoki Primary School 12

olinga Primary School 13

Palukere Primary School 14

Alero Health centre iii 15

Koch Goma Health center iV 16

Abalokodi Primary School 3

Abbera Primary School 4

Kinene Primary School 5

coroom Primary School 6

laminatoo Primary School 7

Koch - lila Primary School 8

labongogali Primary School 9

Page Page

1

Child Friendly Environment in Northern UgandaAmuru District

this report has been compiled by coWi ltd to document the develop-mental contributions by the United Nations children’s Fund (UNicEF) in the reconstruction of schools and health centers in six districts in Northern Ugan-da that were affected by the insur-gency in the past 20 years. it portrays the reconstruction efforts for works ex-ecuted by UNicEF with funding from the government of Japan in the then districts of Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum, Pader, lira and oyam. it is important to note that other districts have since been curved out of the six districts and it shouldn’t be surprising to find that some of the institutions dwelt on in this report are now actually found under different districts.

the project was implemented by UNicEF with funding from the Govern-ment of Japan and was executed un-der the supervision of coWi ltd. the project construction activities com-menced in August 2009 and were substantially completed in June 2010.

Project background

two decades of armed conflict be-tween the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the lord’s resist-ance Army (lrA) resulted in a com-plex humanitarian situation in northern Uganda, notably in Acholi and lango sub-regions characterised by mas-sive internal displacement of people. More than 1.8 million people were forced to shift from their homes by the insurgency to the more secure inter-nally Displaced People’s (iDP) camps where the Uganda government forc-es offered them protection. this led to drastic deterioration or even outright collapse of infrastructure particularly schools and health centers due to abandonment and lack of main-

tenance. the existing facilities were abandoned while temporary facilities were set up at the iDP centers till the insurgency subsided.

With positive developments in 2006, the humanitarian situation in northern Uganda gradually improved and by the end of September 2007, more than half of the formerly displaced people had been repatriated with over half a million settling permanently in their original villages. the return has certainly not been smooth as almost all families had to return to destroyed, damaged or dilapidated facilities and infrastructure and in most cases, a stark lack of institutional, social and economic structures. Not only did the conflict disrupt the provision of critical social services such as primary health care and education, it also contrib-uted to the breakdown of traditional community structures for support and assistance.

through the child Friendly Environment and community Empowerment (cFE) project, UNicEF with support from the government of Japan embarked on a comprehensive rehabilitation proc-ess that saw the revitalization of two of the most critical services impact-ing the survival and development of children in these regions. these com-prised services in primary schools and the health care facilities.

in october 2008 UNicEF with funding from the government of Japan con-tracted coWi, an engineering con-sulting firm to offer technical expertise in the aspects of design, planning, tendering and post contract supervi-sion of rehabilitation and construction of new facilities in 72 schools and 24 health centre facilities in the 6 districts. the project was aimed at improving education, hygiene, sanitation and

safe water access especially by the children in these areas.

the total project cost was approxi-mately USD 5 million (12 billion Ugan-da shillings) and covered 4 districts in the Acholi sub region (i.e. Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, and Pader ) and 2 in lango sub-region (i.e. lira and oyam). in all, 72 primary schools and 24 health centres were targeted to be improved. this project was effectively completed in November 2010.

Project objectives and achievements

the overall objective of the project was to ensure that after the conflict, children and women were placed at the centre of the recovery and devel-opment process in northern Uganda, and that the facility based structures of the formal sector are strengthened with the ownership and participation of communities:-

the project has so far achieved the following:-1. A remarkable improvement in

access to primary education by the children in the region through provision of sound classroom structures, scholastic and recreational materials.

2. A remarkable improvement in the provision of safe and clean water in schools and health centres with improved sanita-tion through provision of sanita-tion and hand-washing facilities

3. improvement in teachers’ com-mitment and morale through provision of decent staff houses and sanitation facilities.

4. A remarkable improvement of health care service delivery

introduction

2


through rehabilitation of health centres and related sanitation facilities.

About Amuru district

At the time of executing the project, Amuru district was one of the four districts that made up the Acholi sub-region the other districts being Kitgum, Pader and Gulu. it was curved out of Gulu in 2006. the district had a popu-lation of approximately 226,000 peo-ple accounting for about 15% of the population in the Acholi sub-region with a population growth rate of 3.5% (going by the 2002 national popula-tion census).

it is mainly an agricultural district with 98% of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. However dur-ing the insurgency only less than 1% of the land was being utilised for agri-culture because of insecurity and dis-placement of people.

cFE project coverage in Amuru

the cFE project covered the following institutions in Amuru district

Schools:-1. Abalokodi Primary School2. Abbera Primary School3. Kinene Primary School4. coroom Primary School5. laminatoo Primary School6. Koch-lira Primary School7. labongogali Primary School8. lacaro Primary School9. lalar Primary School10. lamoki Primary School11. olinga Ptimary school12. Palukere Primary School

Health centers:-1. Alero Health center2. Koch Goma Health center3. Palukere Health center

L. Albert

L. Victoria

L. KyogaL. Albert

L. Kyoga

Mity

ana

BukwoKapchorwa

Kaliro

Butaleja Mba

leM

anafw

a

Luw

ero

Nakaseke

Iban

daM

bara

ra

Isingiro

Kiruhura

Amolotar

Tororo

Yumbe

Kayunga

Mayuge

Kisoro

Kasese

KyenjojoMukono

Sironko

L. VictoriaRuk

ungi

ri

Moyo

Adjumani

Kaabong

Masindi

Hoima KumiNakasongola

Kamuli

Kiboga

Pallisa

Bundibugyo KibaaleIganga

KabaroleMubende

MukonoBugiri

Jinja

Busia

WakisoKamwenge

MpigiSembalule

Masaka

Rakai

BushenyiKalangala

Kanu

ngu

Ntungamo

Kabale

Oyam

Dokolo

Amolatar

Lira

Pader

Kitgum

Gulu

Koboko

Maracha

Arua

Nebbi

AmuriaApac

Kaberamaido

Soroti

kotido

Kampala

AMURU Abim

Moroto

NakapiripiritKatakwi

the map below shows the location of Amuru district in relation to its neighbour-ing districts.

3


toilet facility before interventionPupils attending classes under a tree before the intervention

Abalokodi primary School

Abalokodi Primary School is located in Atiak sub-county in Amuru district. During the insurgency the pupils of this school were accommodated by Juba road School thereby stressing the latter school’s facilities and infra-structure due to overcrowding. Abalo-kodi Primary School resumed opera-tions in late 2007 and at the time of intervention, it had a population of 250 pupils. the classroom structures were dilapidated and the sanitation facilities were insufficient. the teach-ers had to do with housing structures made from mud and wattle with grass thatch. there was a functioning bore-hole on the school site but the toilets were in deplorable condition.

it was obvious that the school needed urgent intervention in all aspects of in-frastructure for both pupils and teach-ers. the district administration built a new classroom block for the school comprising three classrooms with an office/store but this was not enough for all classes and with the likelihood of recruiting more teachers, there was a need for improved accommodation and sanitation facilities.

through the cFE project, the school was supported through the following interventions:-

(i) construction of 2 toilet blocks of five-stance toilets one for girls and the other for boys.

(ii) 1 block of 2-stance toilets for the teachers.

the new toilet facility constructed for the school under the cFE project

4


Abbera primary School

Abbera Primary School is located in Pabbo sub-county and at the time of intervention had a population of 650 children (379 boys and 271 girls) with 9 teachers, 2 of whom were women. At that time, the school had 7 class-rooms with an office and store and these were in sound condition save for the need for a facelift in some of the classrooms. the existing sanitation facilities were visibly insufficient for the population with the 5-stance latrine block for girls in appalling condition as shown in the pictures. there was a 6- stance latrine block that had just been completed by other funders but had not yet been commissioned and was thus not in use while the 5-stance block that was still under construction seemed to have been abandoned by the contractors. the teachers were using temporary mobile toilets.

Under the cFE programme, the follow-ing intervention was made:-

(i) construction of one block of 5-stance latrine.

the toilet facility before intervention

the completed toilet facility after intervention

5


Kinene Primary School is located in Bwobo Parish, Alero Sub county and at the time of intervention had a popula-tion of 701 children (384 boys and 317 girls) with eleven teachers. the school had three classroom blocks with a total of 10 classrooms. these com-prised of permanent structures some of which only had pillars and roofs with no wall in-fills as shown in the pictures on the right. others had leaking roofs that needed replacing. the only sani-tation facility was a grass-thatched 4-stance latrine for girls and a similar one for the boys, both of which had no hand-washing facilities.

the teachers were accommodated in grass thatched huts constructed by parents, shared toilet facilities with the children while at school and had grass thatched toilet facilities at their residences. there was a borehole within the school compound, in good working condition and a rainwater harvesting tank that was not functional because of a broken tap. the school community used jerrycans to store drinking water.

Under the cFE programme, the follow-ing interventions were made:-

(i) construction of one block of latrines with hand-washing fa-cilities, one for boys and one for girls.

(ii) completion of the existing class-rooms.

Kinene primary School

the old open classrooms

the new 5-stance toilet facility

the completed classroom block

the old teachers’ toilet facility

6


coorom Primary School is located in Koch Goma Sub-county and at the time of intervention had an enrolment of 357 pupils (156 boys and 201 girls)with 6 teachers, 2 of whom were wom-en. the school had 7 classrooms, all in use though some were in poor struc-tural condition. the school also had 3 blocks of 5-Stance latrines in good condition with a functional borehole. the school teachers were accom-modated in grass-thatched huts with similar toilet facilities.


(i) construction of new houses for teachers.

Coorom primary School

the new staff facilities under construction with the old staff houses in the back-ground

the newly completed staff house

7


laminatoo Primary School is located in Koch-goma Sub county and at the time of intervention had an enrolment of 281 pupils (149 boys and 132 girls) under the stewardship of seven teach-ers. the school had seven classrooms with a headmaster’s office and a store, all in good condition and in use, with evidently enough furniture. the school however had only one block of 5-stance latrines in good condition that was shared by both boys and girls and the staff houses were not enough for all the teachers. there was thus need for a another block of toilets for pupils, exclusive toilet facilities for the teachers as well as additional staff housing. the school had a functional borehole.


(i) construction of one block of 5-stance latrines for girls.

Laminatoo primary School

the existing classroom block

the new toilet block constructed besides the only existing toilet facility at the time

8


Koch lila Primary School is located in Koch-goma Sub county and at the time of assessment was still located at its displaced location in the nearby Koch Goma trading center although the majority of the community had returned to their homes. Most of the pupils were therefore commuting from their original home villages to the displaced school site because of lack of infrastructure at the original site. the school had a population of 425 pupils (188 girls and 237 boys) with only four government-paid teachers and three volunteers.

the original site had only one block of two classrooms in good condition as it had been constructed shortly before the assessment for this project. An-other two classroom blocks had been partially constructed with one built up to roof level and the other to the win-dow level. the school had a block of 5-stance latrines and a borehole, both in good condition. inspite of these, the school had no accommodation for staff who had to opt to rent houses in the nearby trading center. At the time of pre-project assessment, the com-munity was planning to build grass thatched huts for the teachers.


(i) construction of staff houses. (ii) construction of a block of

5-stance latrines for girls all as shown in the pictures.

Koch Lila primary School

the old classroom block

the old toilet facility the new toilet facility

the new staff house

9


Labongogali primary School

one of the old open classroom structures

one of the classroom blocks after completion

Pupils attending classes in one of the structures

labongogali Primary School is located in Amuru Sub county and at the time of intervention had a population of 922 pupils (498 boys and 424 girls) with 14 teachers, three of whom were women. At the time of assessment, the school had seven classrooms in use of which only two, an office and a store were in good condition. Most of the other structures comprised only corrugated sheet roof on piers and gable walls without main infill walls or floors. there was thus a dire need to renovate the other classrooms. the school had two blocks of 4-stance latrines, one for girls and one for boys, both of which were in good condition. there was a bore-hole at the school but it was not func-tional and needed repair.


(i) rehabilitation of two blocks of the classrooms.

(ii) repair of the school borehole.

10


lacaro Primary School is located in Amuru Sub county and at the time of intervention had a population of 757 pupils (420 boys and 337 girls), 10 government-paid and 4 parent paid teachers, only one of whom was a woman. At the time of assess-ment, there were six classrooms all in use and in good condition while one classroom was in use but in a bad condition. three of the teachers were housed in grass thatched huts, constructed by the parents who were planning to build more. there was a functioning borehole but latrines were few and in very bad condition.


(i) construction of a block of 2 new classrooms.

(ii) construction of 2 blocks of 5-stance latrines one for boys and the other for girls.

Lacaro p7 primary School

one of the old classrooms in bad condition

the new classroom block

the new toilet block for girls

11


lalar Primary School is located in Alero Sub county and at the time of inter-vention had a population of 333 pu-pils (193 boys and 142 girls) with 11 teachers. At the time of assessment, the school had 2 blocks of classrooms with 7 rooms in use; each of which needed repair in various aspects. the roof of one of the rooms had been blown off by wind. there were no teachers’ houses thus all the teaching staff had to commute from Alero Dis-placed People’s camp, several kilo-metres away. there was one 5-stance and one 4-stance latrine block for the boys and girls respectively, all in fair condition but with no hand wash-ing facilities. there were no exclusive sanitation facilities for the teachers. there was a borehole with very poor yield that took almost 40 minutes to fill a 20-litre jerrycan.

Under the cFE programme, the follow-ing interventions were done:-

(i) rehabilitation of four class-rooms.

(ii) repair of the borehole. (iii) construction of one block of

5-stance latrine with a portable wash hand facility.

Lalar primary School

the old classroom block with blown off roof

the newly rehabilitated classroom block

New toilet facility

12


lamoki Primary School is located in Anaka Sub county and at the time of intervention had a population of 454 children (238 boys and 216 girls), 10 government-paid and 2 parent-paid teachers. the school had seven class-rooms with an office and a store. ow-ing to lack of staff accommodation at the school, some of the teachers re-sided in grass thatched huts near the school, while others had to commute from Anaka trading center several kilometres away. there was one block of 4-stance latrines while an NGo, AcF was building a borehole for the school.


(i) construction of housing units for teachers’ accommodation.

Lamoki primary School

the old grass thatched houses for staff

the newly completed staff house

13


Under the cFE programme, the follow-ing interventions were made:

(i) renovation of a block of three classrooms.

(ii) construction of one block of 5-stance latrines for girls.

(iii) construction of one block of 2-stance latrines for teachers.

olinga Primary School is located in Pabbo Sub county and at the time of intervention had a population of 427 pupils (246 boys and 181 girls), nine teachers; three of whom were women. there were seven classrooms in use four of which were new while the rest were dilapidated. one of the classrooms was being used as a staff room, office and store. the teachers who chose to reside near the school were housed in grass thatched huts in very poor condition while the others had to travel long distances for de-cent accommodation. there was one block of 5-stance latrines in good con-dition and a functioning borehole.

olinga primary School

the old classroom block

the new 5-Stance ViP latrine

the new 2-Stance ViP latrine the renovated classroom block

14


Palukere Primary School is located in Atiak Sub county and at the time of intervention had 425 students (231 boys and 194 girls), six government-paid and three parent-paid teach-ers, three of whom were women. the school had seven classrooms in use but only five were in good condition. Some of the classrooms had leaking corrugated iron-sheet roofs on pil-lars and gable walls, without side infill walls. the only complete structure was used as an office and storeroom. one open and incomplete classroom was used as a staff room. there was no onsite accommodation for the teach-ers who had to commute from a dis-tance away.

the schools had a 10-stance latrine for boys and 9-stance for girls, but none for teachers with a borehole 100 metres away from the furthest school building.


(i) rehabilitation of four classrooms (two blocks of two classrooms each).

(ii) construction of one 2-stance ecosan toilets for teachers.

palukere primary School

the old classroom structures

one of the blocks with a leaking roof

the rehabilitated classroom blockthe new 2 – Stance ecosan toilet block

15


Alero Health Centre III

Alero Health center (Hc) is located in Alero Sub-county. Under the Uganda Ministry of Health guidelines, every sub-county must have a Health cen-tre iii which must have an out-patient department (oPD), examination facili-ties, a pharmacy (medical store) and maternity. it must thus be managed by a clinical officer, a nurse and mid-wife resident at the center. Following the insurgency, all that remained at Alero Hc was dilapidated outpatient department and staff houses.


i) construction of a staff house.ii) construction of a 4-Stance ViP

latrine.

the new staff housethe new 4- Stance ViP latrine

the existing oPD

16


Koch Goma Health center is located in Koch Goma Sub-county with health center iV status. At the time of assess-ment it had a dilapidated dispensary and maternity block with four similarly dilapidated staff houses. the staff houses had caved-in ceilings infested with bats and the roofs were leaking. the houses were thus un-inhabitable so the need for staff accommodation was critical for a health center of this status.


i) renovation of staff houses.

Koch Goma Health Center IV

one of the staff houses before intervention

Another staff house before interven-tion

one of the renovated staff houses

UNicEF UgandaP.o Box 7047, Kampala, Uganda

coWi crusader HouseP.o Box 10591Kampala, Uganda By: Advanced communications ltd,P.o Box 11670, Kampala, UgandaE-mail: info@advancedcommunications-ea.comwww.advancedcommunications-ea.com


child friendly environment in uganda - amuru district 2010

Documents

labongogali primary

abalokodi primary school

palukere primary school

lalar primary school

coroom primary school

kinene primary school

olinga primary school

lamoki primary school