Gideon Tumwijukye | Tayari News
KABALE – The Kabale District Education Officer, Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye, has challenged schools to strengthen cooperation with local governments in the implementation of development projects, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize future opportunities.
Bwengye made the remarks on Wednesday during the commissioning of a 285-million-shilling multipurpose hall at Ndorwa Secondary School in Kabale. The facility was constructed by the Kabale District Local Government and built by Trejing Engineering Services Limited.
Speaking at the event, Bwengye emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that successful implementation of government projects depends on mutual understanding and adherence to agreed guidelines.
“As a district, we are committed to improving infrastructure in our schools, but this can only be achieved when school administrations cooperate fully with us,” Bwengye said.
“When there is a breakdown in communication and failure to meet agreed conditions, it delays progress and creates unnecessary challenges.”
He, however, expressed concern over what he described as a lack of cooperation from Ndorwa Secondary School during the five months of construction.
Bwengye revealed that the school failed to adhere to the Memorandum of Understanding by not providing a land title for the site where the hall was constructed, a requirement that led to confusion during the project implementation.
“The Memorandum of Understanding clearly states that the school must provide proof of land ownership before construction begins,” he explained.
“Failure to present a land title not only causes uncertainty but also exposes the government to potential legal risks.”
He warned that such lapses could affect the school’s chances of benefiting from future government projects, noting that submission of a land title is a key requirement by the Ministry of Education and Sports before any construction is undertaken.
“Going forward, schools that do not comply with these requirements may miss out on future developments,” Bwengye cautioned.
“We must follow procedures to ensure transparency and accountability in all government projects.”
The Kabale District Deputy Resident Commissioner, Micheal Kyakashari Muramira, also condemned the act, emphasizing the importance of verifying land ownership for government-aided schools.
Muramira stressed that the government must safeguard public investments by ensuring that all projects are implemented on legally recognized land.
“Government cannot invest millions of shillings on land whose ownership is not clear,” Muramira said.
“We must be certain that the land belongs to the school to avoid future disputes, conflicts, or even court cases that could lead to loss of public resources.”
Meanwhile, the Head Teacher of Ndorwa Secondary School, Hassan Ssemugenyi, commended the district local government for constructing the multipurpose hall, saying it will greatly improve school operations and provide space for academic and co-curricular activities.
“We are very grateful to the district for this facility. It will help us host school events, assemblies, and examinations in a better environment,” Ssemugenyi said.
“This is a big step towards improving the learning conditions of our students.”
However, Ssemugenyi noted that the school still faces several challenges, including the lack of a science laboratory, which he said is critical under the new competence-based curriculum that emphasizes practical learning.
“The new curriculum requires learners to engage in practical lessons, but without a laboratory, this becomes very difficult,” he explained.
“We appeal to the government and other stakeholders to support us in establishing a fully equipped science lab.”
He also highlighted persistent flooding at the school during the rainy season as another major challenge affecting both learners and infrastructure.
“Whenever it rains heavily, parts of the school compound flood, disrupting lessons and damaging property,” Ssemugenyi added.
“We need urgent intervention to improve drainage and protect our facilities.”