Christopher Oola
A total of 60 students joining post primary schools education in Acholi sub-region in 2025 are to benefit from the first phase of the Dero Kwan initiative, an initiative aimed at resuscitating the quality of education across Acholi sub-region.
The initiative being championed by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo and former Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party President Olara Otunnu was launched in December 2023 during a Pan-Acholi convocation at Sir Samuel Baker School in Gulu City.
UGX 300M has been set aside under the scholarship fund by the local people to implement the first phase of the initiative. Each of the eight districts in the sub region has been allocated seven slots while Kitgum Municipality and Gulu city shall each get two slots.
Under the Dero Kwan initiative, the leaders have set an ambitious target to raise 2.5 billion shillings annually through the voluntary contribution of 1,000 shillings from each member of a household towards the scholarship fund.
The scheme targets less privilege students but academically bright, must have passed in grade one or two, must have good conducts both at school and in the community and must have abilities in extra co-curriculum such as sports or MDD.
Others are inability of the child’s parents/guidance to pay school fees, their parent’s participations in school activities such as meetings and children living with disabilities.
Filder Lanyero Ojok the co-chair Dero Kwan says beneficiaries shall be selected from students who sat for their PLE exams in government aided schools and must have been admitted to study in government aided secondary schools in the region.
According to reports, unemployment rate in the region stand at 16.9% for working-age persons (14-64), Low secondary education gross enrollment rates of 13.5% (15.5% for males and 11.5% for females) compared with the national average of 25% and High and growing poverty levels at 67.7% as of 2019/20.
