GULU: Gulu City authorities have raised concern over the rampant destruction of school property by unknown people. The vandals are reportedly targeting primary schools, where they mainly destroy lightning arresters, fences, and furniture, among other valuable items.
Vandals broke into Layibi Central Primary School in Laroo-Pece Division and destroyed a fence and all the lightning arresters that were part of the FICHTNER Batch II project.
As Irwenyo tells it, other schools that have had their property vandalised include Christ the King Demonstration Primary School in the Bardege-Layibi Division; Wii-Awaranga Primary School; Layibi Techo Primary School; Baptist Primary School; St. Peter Primary School; and many other schools.
He says that there is a need for “massive community sensitization” by the local leaders against the vice. Because of the long lockdown, Florence Lallam, the Pece-Laroo Division-North Woman Councilor, blames the vice on that. Many schools were left unprotected.
She says that the vice has come with huge financial implications for the City Council as far as replacement of the vandalised items is concerned. Lallam revealed that, besides sensitising the local community against vandalising school property, the City Council should take action against the scrap dealers who are creating markets for vandalised items.
People in the Pece-Laroo Division North Councilor’s office have asked former students of the city’s schools to start moving into the neighbourhoods next to the schools and educating people about the dangers of vandalising things like fences and lightning arresters.
People in Gulu City go to public and private schools, as well as private schools. There are 128 public and private learning institutions in Gulu City.