Lockdown Exposed School Land to Grabbers- Education Ministry

The closure of schools has greatly contributed to the increased exposure of school land to grabbers.   

Schools were closed in March 2020 by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as a way to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education says throughout the lock down and after the partial reopening, they have been receiving reports from different areas of the country about grabbing of school land.   

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Without mentioning specific cases, Kakooza said grabbing of school land was common in Bukedea, Wakiso districts among other areas. He notes that the practice was largely done by foundational bodies and people who had awarded land or their predecessors trying to claim it.   

The land grabbers many of who had conflicted with the school management wanted to take advantage of the absence of learners and seal the land deals before schools reopen.  

Dr Asuman Lukwaga, the secretary Education Service Commission, suggested that the ministry should launch a nationwide campaign to save school land from the grabbers.

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However, Kakooza says that the Ministry plans to ensure that all public and government-aided schools have their land titled.

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Kakooza adds that they have also revised their approach on how the titles should be obtained to allow founding bodies to be parties to the titles since most of them had refused to give up their land to schools in fear of losing attachment to the respective institutions.