By Brian Mugenyi
The long-running ownership dispute surrounding Bukakata Seed Secondary School in Masaka District has taken a significant turn after the Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, declared that the institution was established as a community public school and should continue operating in the interest of learners rather than competing ownership claims.
Speaking during an interview, Dr. Muyingo said while there may have been procedural errors during the school’s establishment, the government’s intention from the outset was to create a public institution that would expand access to affordable secondary education for children in Bukakata Sub-county and the surrounding communities.
“It was an error initially, but the spirit was that the people wanted the school to belong to the community. It has been operating as a community public school,” Dr. Muyingo said.
His remarks come amid an ongoing dispute over the ownership and management of the government-funded Seed Secondary School, which sits on six acres of land donated by the Catholic Church through the Masaka Diocese. The disagreement has attracted the attention of education authorities, church leaders and local stakeholders seeking clarity over the school’s legal status.
The minister stressed that the welfare of learners must remain the overriding priority, warning that disputes over ownership should never interfere with children’s constitutional right to education. He reiterated that any financial contributions requested from parents must comply with government policy and should never be used as a condition for learners to remain in school.
“We do not want to discourage learners from attending school. If parents are required to make any contribution, it should be in accordance with the law and should never be used to keep learners out of school,” he said.
Uganda’s public education framework provides that government-aided schools are managed through legally constituted Boards of Governors, which oversee governance, administration and accountability. Dr. Muyingo emphasised that this legal structure should guide the management of Bukakata Seed Secondary School.
“It is the Board chairperson who is responsible for the governance of the school,” he noted, while cautioning against the collection of unauthorised fees that could undermine access to education.
He further appealed to religious institutions and all stakeholders to support government efforts to keep education affordable.
“The church should not solicit money from parents in a manner that discourages learners from accessing education,” he said.
Dr. Muyingo also addressed concerns over infrastructure and security, explaining that the Seed Secondary School Programme was designed to provide essential facilities, including perimeter fencing, to safeguard public investments. However, he expressed concern over the increasing destruction of government property in schools.
“The project plan that brought us this far included fencing Seed Secondary Schools. I am sorry about the acts of vandalism that have affected facilities such as computers and other school property,” he said.
He acknowledged that although the Ministry of Education submits annual budget requests for maintenance and replacement of damaged facilities, limited resources often delay interventions.
“Ugandans are good at destroying what has already been created. Every financial year we submit our requirements, but the resources available are limited. Much of the money is spent repairing and replacing damaged facilities. Whenever a school loses essential equipment, we give it priority for repair or replacement, subject to the availability of funds,” he added.
The minister noted that the Greater Masaka region continues to receive substantial government investment in education, including plans to renovate institutions such as St. Henry’s College Kitovu. He also commended the region for maintaining strong academic standards.
“Masaka is not performing badly. Schools such as St. Henry’s College Kitovu continue to register strong academic performance,” he said.
At the school, Headteacher Emmy Kasule, an experienced educationist and graduate of Makerere University, has continued to focus on improving academic standards despite the ownership controversy. Local leaders say the school’s administration remains committed to strengthening teaching and learning so that Bukakata Seed Secondary School can continue improving its performance.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Mr. Kamulegeya, the Head of Schools Welfare at the Masaka Diocese, were unsuccessful by press time.
Meanwhile, Oscar Mutebi, a Private Secretary at State House and personal assistant to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, recently visited the school during its sports day celebrations.
He pledged to lobby for additional government support, including scholastic materials, computers and electricity connections through the Ministry of Education and Sports. He also participated in the sports tournament, which was organised to promote and nurture student talent.
Local leaders maintain that Bukakata Seed Secondary School has become one of the leading government secondary schools in the area. According to Masaka District Speaker Archilles Mawanda, enrolment is projected to grow to about 1,000 students, reflecting increasing public confidence in the institution.
While the ownership dispute remains unresolved, Dr. Muyingo’s declaration that the school is a community public institution is expected to influence ongoing discussions.
Education stakeholders will now be looking to the relevant government agencies and the school’s governing structures to resolve the outstanding issues while ensuring that learning continues uninterrupted and that public investment in education is protected for future generations.