Police in Pader District have apprehended the head teacher of Oweka Primary School, located in Ogola Parish, Bongtiko Sub-county. The arrest follows the disappearance of two female candidates who completed their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) last week.
The parents of the missing girls reported to the police that their children, who had left the school to take exams at another center (Pajule Primary School), neither returned to school for a final debrief nor came home. The incident led to a protest by parents in front of the head teacher’s office at Oweka Primary School last Friday.
Mr. Vincent Anywar Ngomkura, a concerned parent, shared his uncertainty about whether the missing girls had indeed completed their papers. He mentioned that the head teacher, in whose custody the children were, failed to provide an explanation.
According to Mr. Anywar, out of the 20 candidates who went to Pajule Primary School from Oweka Primary School, only 18 returned home after completing their exams.
Mr. Tom Karahutsya, the Officer-in-charge of Pader Central Police Station, confirmed the launch of an inquiry into the case, stating, “The head teacher is in our custody.”
Ms. Margaret Alanyo, the Pader District Education Officer, intervened after the parents’ protest and called for an emergency meeting at the school. During the meeting, parents expressed concerns about the overall performance of the school, urging the District Education Officer (DEO) to transfer the head teacher.
The head teacher, however, denied the accusations, suggesting that if the girls went missing, they likely strayed on their way home.
Mr. David Komakech, the district’s secretary for Education, supported an audit of the school’s operations. The DEO, Ms. Alanyo, blamed the school management committee for not reporting such issues promptly. She noted, “This school received more funding than others in the district, up to Shs8m per quarter, but the head teacher is failing to meet the required standards. Immediate action will be taken to address the concerns raised in this meeting.”