By Mike Rwothomio

Leaders, alumni, parents and education stakeholders have issued a strong collective appeal for a comprehensive mega-renovation of the aging and dilapidated infrastructure at Uringi Secondary School in Nebbi District.

The call was made during the school’s 58th anniversary celebrations held on Saturday, 10 October 2026.

The landmark event drew hundreds of former students, community members and officials to the hilltop campus in Jupangira Sub-County, marking a historic milestone for one of the oldest continuously operating secondary schools in Greater Nebbi.

School Headteacher Pico Paul Kennedy, in his address, commended the foundation body, government, parents and other stakeholders for their continued support.

 He called for a phased renovation programme covering classrooms, dormitories, laboratories and administrative blocks.

“We want to appreciate the foundation body Bishop Luke Orombi for putting some of these facilities, with friends in the UK. However, the challenge is that the facilities now need renovation. I believe if we work together as a team and as stakeholders, we can do this in a phased manner amidst the limited resources,” Pico explained.

Founded in 1968, Uringi Secondary School has educated generations of learners and contributed significantly to the region’s academic landscape. The 58th anniversary proceedings began with a pre-event campfire that fostered informal interaction among alumni, current students and teachers.

The main day featured prayers, speeches, social activities and entertainment. The Bishop of Nebbi Anglican Diocese Commissary the Very Reverend Ephraim Jagen in his homily, urged stakeholders “to go back with the good news about Uringi SS”

Many participants spoke of reconnecting with the school’s founding body, the Church of Uganda, as well as cultural and community leaders.

Organizers described the day as both a joyful reunion and a sober reminder that many of the school’s buildings, some dating back to its earliest years, now require urgent attention to ensure safety, dignity and continued academic excellence.

“Uringi has given so much to Greater Nebbi and to Uganda. It is only right that we now give back by transforming these worn-out structures into modern facilities worthy of the school’s legacy,” one old student reasoned.

With current enrolment exceeding 500 learners, the Board of Governors Chairperson urged Nebbi District leadership to prioritize and resolve the school’s ongoing infrastructure crisis.

“When we came as a board three years ago, the enrolment was at 300. But now we are talking about 548. That means the student population and enrolment is increasing. The facilities we have are not enough, board, classroom infrastructure, dormitories for accommodation, and library,” he explained.

He added that infrastructural development has not been adequately prioritized and appealed for urgent consideration.

The Board of Governors anticipates growth to 700 students, noting that existing classrooms and dormitories are already insufficient.

Central Organising Committee Chairperson Elly Aswa reinforced the message, demanding urgent collaborative interventions from all relevant sectors.

In response, Nebbi District Education Officer (DEO) Innocent Openjtho and the Vice LCV Chairperson promised that the district administration would formally discuss and address the raised infrastructure concerns.

A member of the Old Students’ Association added: “We have inspected the facilities. Many structures that once stood proudly are now showing serious signs of wear, cracked walls, leaking roofs. A mega-renovation is not a luxury; it is a necessity if we want Uringi to remain a centre of excellence.”

Uringi Secondary School traces its origins to 1968, when the late Hon. Uringi S.W., then State Minister of Health in the first Obote government, founded the institution with strong community support from Goli Jupangira. Residents donated land and helped construct the first classrooms.

The school initially operated at the site of the present-day Women’s Vocational Training Centre before relocating to its permanent home on Anguruma Hill.

The elevated location, affectionately called the “hilltop campus,” offered moderate climatic conditions, expansive grounds and a conducive setting for teaching and learning.

Successive headteachers, including Rev. Joram Okoku, Mr. Gayo B.K. Kerunen and the long-serving Mr. Opio Okerson, built a culture of discipline and high academic standards.

Over nearly six decades the school has remained a formidable institution offering both Ordinary and Advanced Level programmes.

Its distinctive uniforms, sky blue and green for A-Level students and white and dark blue for O-Level boys, became iconic markers of identity.

The school anthem, which begins “God bless Uringi Our school,” continues to evoke strong emotion among the community.

Uringi ranks among a small group of secondary schools in Greater Nebbi with more than fifty years of continuous operation, joining historical peers such as St. Aloysius College Nyapea (the oldest), Angal Secondary School and Warr Girls Secondary School.

The 58th anniversary was the first major celebration since the “Uringi at 50” event eight years earlier.

Organisers announced that annual commemorations would now become a permanent feature of the school calendar.

Academically, the institution has consistently posted strong results, particularly at Advanced Level, often outperforming many other schools in Nebbi District.

Headteacher Pico noted the school’s solid performance under the district quota system in 2025, stating that Uringi managed to secure half of the available slots, with the remainder distributed among other schools.

The school has produced a distinguished body of alumni who have gone on to serve in education, local and central government, the clergy, law, journalism, medicine, academia and other professions.

Community leaders and education officials credit Uringi with helping to raise educational aspirations across Greater Nebbi.

Notable former students include Professor Openjuru L. George, Vice Chancellor of Gulu University; Dr. Joseph Rwothomio, Acting Head of the Department of Educational Planning and Management at Kyambogo University; and Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle Awinju, Bishop of Nebbi Anglican Diocese.

The Vice LCV Chairperson of Nebbi District, also an alumnus, observed that by providing a stable, disciplined environment on Anguruma Hill, the school encouraged families in surrounding sub-counties to invest in secondary education.

“ Its mixed status and relatively accessible location made it a practical choice for both boys and girls, contributing to improved gender balance in secondary enrolment over the decades” He said.

However, dilapidated structures pose clear safety risks.

School Head Boy Mungucangu Ezekiel raised pressing concerns about the dormitories, limited decker beds, inadequate computer laboratory and an outdated library.

“For the girls they have challenges with their dormitory; in the boys’ wings we have fewer deckers, and our computer lab has a minimum number of computers and an outdated library that needs a lot of renovation,” Mungucangu said, appealing directly to government for a mega-renovation of the aging infrastructure.

School Head Girl Joan Ayiorwoth added: “This is the day for advertising our school but the school needs renovation. You know the students’ health matters a lot.”She noted that aging dormitories compromise privacy and hygiene, particularly for girls.

The Central Organising Committee and school administration plan to convert the momentum of the 58th anniversary into concrete development projects. Annual celebrations are expected to provide regular opportunities for resource mobilisation, mentorship and the transmission of institutional history to new generations.Dormitory ( Bishop House )The School Old students association during a fundraising campaignA section of the school LaboratoryOne of the aging classrooms at Uringi SS.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.