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There was excitement at Nancy & SHAUNTI School as 17.5 million UGX was donated, facilitated through the lobbying efforts of Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.
The team led by Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, including Emma Okite and Jena Opolot, was commended by the school management team.
Hon. Dr. Aceng Ruth Ocero, who also serves as the Woman MP for Lira City, did not officiate in person at the donation event where 17.5 million UGX and an assortment of solar lights were handed over to the school by Charlene Turner.
Emma Okite, representing the Honorable Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, congratulated the Shauti family for their generous support to NANCY & SHAUNTI School for the Deaf. Okite added that the minister is currently in Toronto for an official duty to receive an award recognizing her efforts, alongside H.E. Gen Yoweri Museveni Kaguta, the President of the Republic of Uganda, and Dr. Diana Atwine for their work in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.Assistant RCC of Lira City, Boney Otucu, provided background about Charlene Turner, the director of Solar Light Africa, highlighting the fruitful partnership between Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Charlene. Otucu noted that this connection originated through the First Lady, Hon. Minister Janet Kataha Museveni, to PS Atwine, and then to Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, which has now borne fruit in Lira City.
“We have a total of about 44 secondary schools in Lira City, but there is a unique reason why she has chosen NANCY & SHAUNTI School for the Deaf. The solar lighting system that we now have in this school has exceeded our expectations,” said Otucu.
ARCC Boney Otucu added that “there are more blessings in giving than receiving.” Otucu suggested that the school management name one of the school blocks or dormitories after Charlene and proposed an annual memorial prayer for SHAUNTI to be recognized as a public holiday.
The headteacher of the school, Okello Bonny George, informed the gathering that on July 1, 2024, the government of Uganda officially took over the management of the secondary school section, with endorsement from parents on July 13, 2024. The school is now in the process of finalizing its name as “NANCY & SHAUNTI SCHOOL OF THE DEAF.”
The headteacher outlined several challenges, including the need for additional building blocks, solar inverters for the lighting system, and supplies for the dormitories and administration block, among others.
Quirinos Otim, chairperson of the BOG and disabilities activist, congratulated Hon. Jane Aceng Ocero for the positive developments in the school. Otim requested an incinerator for the girls and permanent buildings for the school, as it currently operates in renovated facilities with limited classroom space.
The school currently employs a total of 57 staff, with 21 students in the vocational section and 159 students from S1 to S4 in the secondary school section.