Man threatens to evict school of 1,800 pupils

Parents at Iganga Municipal Council Primary School that is facing threats of eviction. Photo by YAZID YOLISIGIRA

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Justification. Hajj Saidi Edhiruma says the school sits on his land yet the government has refused to compensate him.

IGANGA. More than 1,800 pupils of Iganga Municipal Council Primary School, the biggest government-aided school in Iganga District, are at risk of losing out on education this year after a local businessman threatened to evict the school.
The school was started and managed by members of the Asian community until their expulsion in 1972 by former president Idi Amin. It was subsequently placed under the management of the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board, which sold it to a local businessman, Mr Saidi Edhiruma in 2006.
However, in a January 2 letter to Iganga Municipality mayor, Mr Edhiruma said he will obtain a court order and evict the school unless the government fulfills its 2008 promise to compensate him and retain control of the school.
“In 2008, His Excellency the President halted my move to evict the school and directed that I should be compensated. I have made several reminders to government to compensate me but all in vain,” Mr Edhiruma’s letter reads in part.
Though Mr Edhiruma does not state how much he is demanding in compensation for the five-acre piece of land and the buildings thereon, sources close to him indicate that the businessman is demanding Shs500 million.
The municipality mayor, Mr Siraje Katono, acknowledged receipt of Hajj Edhiruma’s letter and said he had contacted the Finance and Education ministries to resolve the matter amicably.
“We hope to have this resolved amicably lest it disrupts the children’s education,” Mr Katono said.