Ownership Battle Takes New Twist as Minister Muyingo Declares Bukakata Seed Secondary School a Community Public School

By Brian Mugenyi

MASAKA, Uganda — The long-running ownership dispute surrounding Bukakata Seed Secondary School in rural Masaka District has taken a significant turn. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, the Acting Minister of Education and Sports, has clarified that the institution was established to serve the community as a public school, urging all stakeholders to prioritize the interests of learners over competing claims.

Speaking in an interview, Dr. Muyingo acknowledged that while there may have been administrative errors during the school’s initial establishment, the government’s core intention has always been to run a community public school that expands access to secondary education for children in Bukakata and surrounding areas.

“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 stated.

His remarks come amidst an ongoing ownership row that has drawn the attention of education authorities, community leaders, and religious stakeholders. The minister emphasized that protecting learners and ensuring uninterrupted access to education must remain the top priority.

Protecting the Right to Education

Dr. Muyingo explained that government policy mandates public schools to remain accessible to all children, warning against arbitrary financial demands that could push students out of the classroom.

“We do not want to discourage learners from attending school,” the minister said. “If parents are required to make any contribution, it must be in accordance with the law and should never be used to keep learners out of school.”

He further clarified that the governance of the school rests under its legally constituted Board of Governors, as provided by Uganda’s education framework. “It is the Board chairperson who is responsible for the governance of the school,” he said, cautioning external entities against unauthorized fundraising. “The church should not solicit money from parents in a manner that discourages learners from accessing education.”

Infrastructure Challenges and Vandalism

Addressing concerns over school facilities, Dr. Muyingo noted that the government’s Seed Secondary School Programme was designed to provide comprehensive infrastructure, including perimeter fencing to safeguard public investments. However, he expressed deep concern over the rampant vandalism of school property, including computers and laboratory equipment.

“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.

The minister explained that while the Ministry of Education and Sports routinely submits funding requests for maintenance and asset replacement each financial year, budgetary constraints limit their interventions.

“Ugandans are good at destroying what has already been created,” Dr. Muyingo lamented. “Much of our budget is spent repairing and replacing damaged facilities. Whenever a school loses essential equipment, we give it priority for repair, subject to the availability of funds.”

Despite these challenges, Dr. Muyingo commended the Greater Masaka region for its consistently strong academic performance, highlighting institutions like St. Henry’s College Kitovu, which is earmarked for government-funded renovations.

Roots of the Dispute and Community Support

The 3.5-billion-shilling school facility was constructed during a period of high demand for secondary education in the area. However, its history is deeply intertwined with the Catholic Church, which donated the 6-acre piece of land upon which the school sits.

Efforts to reach Mr. Kamulegeya, the Head of Schools Welfare for the Masaka Diocese, were unsuccessful by press time. However, Ms. Mary Lule Ssenkungu, the former Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Masaka District, provided clarity on the school’s origins. She noted that the school was founded by the government with the full blessing and support of the late Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa.

“It was the Catholic Church that donated the land to the Bukakata Seed School administration as a way of giving back to the community, but the church doesn’t own the school at all,” Ms. Ssenkungu clarified.

She also credited past community efforts—including work by the late Jjuuko Alo to construct drainage systems to prevent flooding—as foundational to the school’s survival. She noted that while the initial construction committee led by Mr. Peter Ssenkungu (former Deputy RDC from 2003 to 2008) faced delays, the school has ultimately grown to become a cherished local landmark.

Current Leadership and the Road Ahead

The school is currently under the stewardship of Mr. Emmy Kasule, an experienced headteacher and Makerere University alumnus. Mr. Kasule, known as a staunch supporter of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), is reportedly focused entirely on boosting the school’s academic performance.

Ms. Ssenkungu lauded his leadership, noting that “the school today is experiencing great progress,” despite her initial administrative recommendation to the Ministry of Education to deploy a headteacher originally hailing from within Masaka District.

The school also continues to attract high-level government attention. Mr. Oscar Mutebi, a Private Secretary in the State House and Personal Assistant to Vice President Emeritus Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, recently visited the institution. Mr. Mutebi, who even participated in a school sports tournament to promote youth talent, pledged to advocate for further government interventions, including lobbying the Ministry of Education for additional scholastic materials, computers, and stable grid electricity.

According to Mr. Archilles Mawanda, the Speaker of Masaka District, Bukakata Seed Secondary School remains the benchmark for the government’s Seed School initiative in the region, with its student enrollment rapidly climbing toward the 1,000 mark. As the government firmly maintains that the school belongs to the public, local stakeholders remain hopeful that learning will continue smoothly without further ownership distractions.