By Mike Rwothomio
The hope of Attaining secondary education for Domtila Pimer, 15, the best 2024 Zombo female Primary Seven candidate who got division one with ten aggregate is fading away.
The shocking news about Pimer Domtila, is coming at a time when Alur Kingdom, religious and Political leaders and civil society organizations in Zombo, have been busy advocating for the education of the girl child.
Pimer was the head girl of Warr Junior Nursery and Primary School in Warr town council, Zombo District last year.
She amidst bevy of challenges defied all odds to get aggregate 2 in Mathematics , 3 in science, 2 in SST and 3 in ENG. She was amongst the 23 PLE candidates in Zombo who attained Division one in the recently released PLE results for 2024.
Pimer completed her P.7 at Warr Junior Nursery and Primary School in Warr town council, Zombo District, last year 2024.
She expected division one with six aggregate, but expressed happiness about the results notwithstanding.
Pimer and her guardian are now appealing for scholarships from Alur Kingdom, government, well-wishers and non-governmental organizations , for her to achieve her dream of becoming a Doctor.
” I want to appeal to everyone out there to come and help me achieve my dream of becoming a Doctor, I grew up with many challenges that amongst others included school fees, because I never had my father and mother to support me, it was only my Grandmother and guardian helping me out” Pimer said.
She added ” I’m ready to study in any school around until I achieve my dream, but at the moment, as the family, we really lack funds, let the district come and help me if they can”
Pimer’s father Danty Ongigiu became mentally ill shortly after she was born in 2009. Her mother who couldn’t bare the challenge abandoned her to opt for another Marriage in Pakwach district, leaving Pimer who was a toddler in the hands of her grand-mother Auma Fatima, in Warr town council.
Her grandmother Fatima Auma, a peasant farmer brought up in her poverty-stricken home. She would some times lack funds to buy for her scholastic materials.
For all the years, Pimer who doesn’t know her biological Mother in an interview with this Publication at Warr Junior Nursery and Primary School on January 3, said ” I grew up in this rural Warr, I always toil hard to help my grand mother earn a living. Some times, we dig other people’s gardens to source for funds”.
She encouraged her fellow girls to be ambitious to achieve their goals.
Pimer is the second born of her mother. Her brother Rwothomio Ivan, who completed P.7 in Warr Junior Primary school in 2023, upon attaining 14 aggregate wouldn’t join secondary education due to lack of school fees. Rwothomio is now a boda boda cyclist in Warr town council.
Her grandmother told this Publication ” she was being haunted by the fact that even her brother who got second grade ended up as a boda boda ridder. But she kept her hope alive”
The ambitious 15-year-old girl has been for years looking at some influential Powerful women as her role models. They are; Zombo Woman MP Esther Afoyochan, the first lady and minister of education, the speaker of parliament Anita Anet Among, the vice President Jessica Alupo and prime minister Robina Nabbanja.
The supervisor of Warr Junior Nursery and Primary School Johnson Odongo, highlighted how the school offered a bursary for Pimer, calling upon other organizations to now come in to offer some helping hands.
The School Director Jeremiah Ojuku, attributed the performance of Pimer and her colleagues to hard work and resilience of the teachers, and rallied other teachers to adopt to the changing teaching techniques .
Gorge Bidong, the LCIII chairperson of Warr town council , appealed for more support on behalf of Pimer’s family, clarifying that all organisation seeking to help the girl, should use appropriate channel to reach out to the family.
Amos Jacan, the Zombo District Youth chairperson, rally leaders to and schools around to offer the girl a bursary.
The District Councillor of Athuma Sub county Francis Bolingo, noted that ” this is the government that shouldn’t allow that bright girl stay at home, let them come and pick up this young lady and offer her bursary “
Zombo is a district still battling with high drop out rate, staggering rate of teenage pregnancies and early marriage.
Stalk holders are now arguing that this is the right time for any one with a big heart to stand in the gap for the promising Pimer Domtila, who defied all olds to excell with flying colours.
To reach out to the family, you can contact the following
Caroline Oroma- Guardian.
0762134065
Pimer Domtila : Index no. 009709/057.
Mike Rwothomio- Journalist.
O774294930
Alex Pithua- Journalist
0789366876
Elton- close relative
0786756341
