Authorities in the Masaka City Council have raised concern after the Indian Association of Uganda renewed efforts to reclaim Hill Road Public Primary School, a key Universal Primary Education institution in the region.
The association maintains that the school traces its origins to the Asian community that established it in 1954, before many of its members were expelled from Uganda during the 1972 political upheaval under Idi Amin. They argue that repossessing the property would restore the heritage and vision of its original founders.
According to the association’s leadership under Rajin Taylor, the school was initially held under a 49-year lease agreement with the government, but the original founders only benefited from about 18 years of use before their displacement. They further state that efforts to reclaim the property date back more than two decades, beginning around 2002.
The group has since escalated its efforts by formally requesting that the lease be extended to 99 years. The application has been routed through the Masaka City Land Board to the Uganda Land Commission, with claims that supporting documentation has already been issued by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
They also insist that earlier administrative approvals, reportedly obtained in 2014, supported their intention to repossess the property, but that progress stalled when Masaka transitioned from a municipality to a city council structure.
However, Masaka’s political leadership, including Mayor Florence Namayanja, has expressed reservations, emphasizing that the school remains a critical public asset serving over 3,000 pupils from ordinary families and should not be disrupted by ownership disputes.
The city administration further notes that it has already submitted its own application for lease renewal to ensure the school continues functioning as a public educational institution, preserving its role in the community.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Masaka City Land Board, John Ssenyonga, has indicated that the law requires engagement with current occupants and encourages continued dialogue, adding that both sides are expected to seek a negotiated settlement as discussions continue over the school’s future.
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