The Chairperson of the Mbarara District Public Accounts Committee, Herbert Mutungi has warned of a likely loss of government funds extended to primary schools.
Mutungi said while the government has continued to provide funding to the schools, some of them don’t have land titles to prove ownership. He revealed that 84 primary schools operating on land owned by faith-based institutions have never been granted land titles.
He asked the District Executive Committee chaired by the District Chairperson Didas Tabaro, the Chief Administrative Officer, David Muhwezi, and the District Education Officer Gabriel Ahimbisibwe to engage the foundation bodies of churches and mosques among others to process the land titled so that the schools’ occupancy on the land is secured.
This follows an internal audit report that revealed that all primary schools in the Mbarara district were at risk of losing their lands to encroachments.
According to the report, all Primary schools that are under the Foundation of the Church have remained without land titles despite several appeals from the previous audit reports.
Kamugisha said that the government risks losing over 10 billion shillings in investment to the primary schools since the schools are regarded as squatters on the church land.
He highlighted investments like classroom blocks, staff quarters that are constructed by the government.
Gilbert Ahimbisibwe the District Education officer confirmed to the committee that there was no process to acquire the titles for the schools noting that neither the district nor the church has ever been engaged on the matter.
He mentioned that discussions would commence with the relevant stakeholders since the report has highlighted the issue.
Rt. Rev Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa the Ankole Diocese Bishop acknowledged the challenge noting that out of the about 300 land titles needed by the diocese, only 24 are available.
He, however, said that they have put a system in place to ensure that in the next three years, all Church lands have titles.
Fred Rugara, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer said they were sourcing for funds to begin the process.
URN.