KATAKWI — Learning at Ateria Primary School in Akoboi Sub-county was disrupted for over three hours on April 20, 2026, after hundreds of parents stormed the school and locked the headteacher out of his office over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of school property.
The angry parents accused the headteacher, Joseph Asedeke, of misusing school resources, claiming that items such as a laptop and smartphone meant for school operations had been taken for personal use. They demanded immediate intervention from the district education office, including his transfer.
“We can no longer tolerate this mismanagement. The school is collapsing,” one parent said during the protest.
Parents including Moses Elungat, Joseph Arugai, Emmanuel Ichumar, and Bosco Obwalinga also raised concerns over the handling of co-curricular activities. They alleged that during a recent athletics event at Getom Primary School, pupils were poorly catered for despite funds being allocated, and were charged UGX 2,000 each for meals that were already budgeted under government support.
Local leaders echoed the concerns, describing the situation as alarming. Cyrus Imalingat, PISO of Dadas Parish, said the school’s standards had deteriorated significantly, while other leaders called for urgent action to save the institution.
“The school is in a bad state. There is clear mismanagement, and something must be done,” one local leader stated.
Learners, particularly Primary Seven candidates, also voiced frustration over the shortage of teachers and poor learning conditions. They revealed that the school has only about five teachers handling approximately 250 to 300 pupils, raising fears about academic performance.
In an effort to calm tensions, Akoboi Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Jorem Obukui appealed to parents to allow teachers access to classrooms so that learning could resume.
Meanwhile, the headteacher was reportedly unavailable during the incident, having gone to the district headquarters.
School Management Committee (SMC) member Joseph Omolo confirmed that both the SMC and PTA had previously petitioned the District Education Office (DEO) requesting the transfer of the headteacher.
Responding to the situation, Acting DEO Joseph Alileng and Inspector Bosco Okiror urged parents to remain calm, assuring them that the district would take appropriate action.
Authorities temporarily closed the school until April 22, 2026, when district officials, including the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), auditors, and police, are expected to hold a meeting to resolve the matter.
The incident highlights growing concerns over accountability and management in schools, with stakeholders calling for swift action to restore stability and ensure quality education for learners.
