President halts sale of Iganga school

Aug 07, 2008

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed the finance ministry to refund sh45m to businessman Saidi Edhiruma, which he paid to acquire Iganga Town Council Primary School.

By Daniel Saire

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has directed the finance ministry to refund sh45m to businessman Saidi Edhiruma, which he paid to acquire Iganga Town Council Primary School.

The school, the biggest in the town with 2,731 pupils, was sold by the defunct Departed Asians Custodian Board.

It was formerly owned by Asians but the Government repossessed it when President Idi Amin expelled them in 1972.

The school sits on 11 acres of land in the centre of Iganga town. It has nine teachers’ houses and 33 classrooms, 14 of which were constructed by the district and parents.

Finance state minister Fred Omach signed the order transferring the school to Edhiruma in November 2006, after which the businessman secured the land title.

However, Iganga district officials led by their chairman, Asuman Kyafu, have resisted the take-over.

They petitioned the Solicitor General, who in turn took the case to the High Court.

Edhiruma sought intervention from the President, who, however, has ordered that he leaves the school.

In a July 24 letter to the finance minister, Museveni said the sale was erroneous considering that the school is under the Universal Primary Education scheme.

Museveni, through his principal private secretary, Amelia Kyambadde, told Suruma to cancel the sale and refund Edhiruma’s money.

“The President has, therefore, directed that you halt the eviction of pupils and compensate the purchaser accordingly.

“This compensation should take immediate effect in order to salvage this school, which is supposed to cater for the underprivileged urban children.”

The letter is copied to the education, lands and environment ministers, the deputy speaker of Parliament, the commissioner for lands and local leaders.

Benard Tumwesigyire, the custodian board legal officer, admitted irregularities in the sale of the school.

He said the town council, which was the sitting tenant, was not given the chance to buy the school.

Kyafu also argued that the purchase offer was deliberately delivered late to the town council to lock it out of the deal.

“We delivered our cheque late and it was rejected. That is why I opted to use the political means to save the school,” Kyafu said.

The finance ministry has already invited Edhiruma for a discussion on the matter.

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