Construction of Wol SEED School Hangs in Balance Over Land Dispute

The proposed construction of Wol SEED Secondary School in Wol Sub County in Agago district hangs in balance because of a dispute on part of the land hosting the school.

Wol SEED Secondary School is part of 111 institutions lined by the government for construction with funding from World Bank loan under the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer (UgIFT) Program in selected sub Counties without secondary schools starting this financial year.

The government has earmarked Shillings 2.3 billion for the construction of Wol SEED Secondary School. The procurement is currently ongoing under the Ministry of Education and Sports. However, three people occupying the land earmarked to host the school including Matheo Otiti, Rev. Charles Okello and Thomas Ocan have dragged the school Board of Governors and Ventorino Okello, one of the residents to high court claiming ownership of land measuring approximately 6.5 acres hosting the school. 

Okello donated the contested land for the construction of the school in 2010.  According to court documents, the trio contends to be the rightful owners of the land they claim to have inherited from their grandfather. 

Through their lawyer, Egaru and Company Advocates, the applicants want the court to issue a permanent injunction restraining the school and Ventorino Otto from using, claiming the land in contention, or receiving any benefits or compensation from the school occupying the land.

Thomas Ojok Akaka, the Wol Sub County LC III Chairperson, says that he had held several meetings to resolve the land dispute without success. He says that residents are worried that the dispute may delay the planned construction of the seed school and compel the government to withdraw the funding.

Akaka says the civil suit against the school has demoralized residents, particularly parents who have started transferring their children to the schools in the neighboring Parbongo sub-county and Kalongo Town Council over 10 kilometers away. According to Akaka, the school had over 580 students before the nationwide lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

//Cue in: “Ci kare ma….  

Cue out: …..affecting school,”//

The Agago District LC V Vice-Chairperson, Morris Ocana blames the contention on the conflict of interest by former members of the school board, who are reportedly inciting local community members against the development of the school.

He says that the district is aware of the concern, adding that their legal team is doing the needful to salvage the school from the challenges that may further delay the implementation of the project  

//Cue in: “adwala nyo tele…..  

 

Cue out: ….obi tum,”//

Agago Chief Administrative Officer, Stephen Oloya Gunya acknowledges the problem and assures the public that they are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that matter is resolved without affecting the project.