Soroti school in ownership row
A PRIMARY school in Soroti is locked in a battle with an Indian trustee Gujarati body, which has reclaimed the teachers’ houses. The now dilapidated Indian-founded Pioneer Primary School is managed by the municipal authorities.
By Salume Among
A PRIMARY school in Soroti is locked in a battle with an Indian trustee Gujarati body, which has reclaimed the teachers’ houses. The now dilapidated Indian-founded Pioneer Primary School is managed by the municipal authorities.
Saras watichandra Ambalal Bhatt, alias S.A Bhatt, is a foundation member of the trustees of the Soroti Gujarati body. He is in charge of managing the Indian property in Soroti.
The group plans to redevelop the land on Harridas Road in Pioneer Ward where the teachers houses are located. The school management committee on September 24 resolved to evict the teachers within two weeks.
But teachers have protested the move. The affected teachers include Betty Akiror and Salume Akol. The head teacher, Edward Osidak, in a letter of October 6, directed the teachers to leave their premises.
“Betty Akiror is to vacate the house and move to former Onyait’s house, which is vacant,†the letter by Osidak, who is also the school management committee secretary, read.
“Salume Akol moves to where Alungat F. is currently living as arrangements would have been concluded to relocate her to her new place of work (Nakatunya Primary School) within 14 days from the passing of the resolution.â€
The teachers’ houses are part of the many that have been reclaimed by Indians who left the country during President Idi Amin’s era in the 70s. In a letter of October 14, Bhatt’s lawyers, Mungao and Company Advocates, said the developments are made in good faith and are intended to enable their client effect various renovations.
The principal municipal education officer, Stephen Enou, said his office was handling the issue. “The house belongs to Bhatt and he wants to rehabilitate the house formerly used as Pioneer teachers’ quarters,†he said.
The construction of the wall fence for the premise began this week. The teachers’ quarters are in poor condition. This has prompted some of them, including Osidak, to abandon their houses.
The school has a population of 889 pupils. It has 22 teachers, 17 of whom reside within the school, while others commute because of lack of accommodation.
A PRIMARY school in Soroti is locked in a battle with an Indian trustee Gujarati body, which has reclaimed the teachers’ houses. The now dilapidated Indian-founded Pioneer Primary School is managed by the municipal authorities.
Saras watichandra Ambalal Bhatt, alias S.A Bhatt, is a foundation member of the trustees of the Soroti Gujarati body. He is in charge of managing the Indian property in Soroti.
The group plans to redevelop the land on Harridas Road in Pioneer Ward where the teachers houses are located. The school management committee on September 24 resolved to evict the teachers within two weeks.
But teachers have protested the move. The affected teachers include Betty Akiror and Salume Akol. The head teacher, Edward Osidak, in a letter of October 6, directed the teachers to leave their premises.
“Betty Akiror is to vacate the house and move to former Onyait’s house, which is vacant,†the letter by Osidak, who is also the school management committee secretary, read.
“Salume Akol moves to where Alungat F. is currently living as arrangements would have been concluded to relocate her to her new place of work (Nakatunya Primary School) within 14 days from the passing of the resolution.â€
The teachers’ houses are part of the many that have been reclaimed by Indians who left the country during President Idi Amin’s era in the 70s. In a letter of October 14, Bhatt’s lawyers, Mungao and Company Advocates, said the developments are made in good faith and are intended to enable their client effect various renovations.
The principal municipal education officer, Stephen Enou, said his office was handling the issue. “The house belongs to Bhatt and he wants to rehabilitate the house formerly used as Pioneer teachers’ quarters,†he said.
The construction of the wall fence for the premise began this week. The teachers’ quarters are in poor condition. This has prompted some of them, including Osidak, to abandon their houses.
The school has a population of 889 pupils. It has 22 teachers, 17 of whom reside within the school, while others commute because of lack of accommodation.