Public schools in Agago district have been asked to acquire land titles in order to guard against encroachment and ownership disputes. that continue to disrupt education services. The Agago District Chairperson, Wilson Otto, made the call during a school monitoring visit to Kotomor Seed Secondary School under his newly launched Stay-in-School campaign.
Otto said the move is intended to safeguard school land and prevent future conflicts between schools and surrounding communities. “We have directed that all schools must have land titles to save their land and avoid wrangles with communities in the future. Education is the future of our children, and we must protect the institutions that serve them,” Otto said. The intervention follows growing concerns over land disputes and conflicts involving school foundation bodies, which local leaders say are affecting the management and development of several schools.
Otto said securing school land was critical for long-term educational development and would help prevent future disputes that could threaten access to education for thousands of learners across the district. “We are committed to improving education standards in Agago, and protecting school land is one of the necessary steps,” he said.
Schools currently affected by foundation body disputes include Atece Primary School in Omot Sub-county, Lukwamgole Primary School in Patongo Sub-county, and Olyelo Widyel Primary School in Kotomor Sub-county. Agago District Education Officer Calvin Nixon Okot said land ownership documents have become increasingly important because the government requires proof of ownership before investing in school infrastructure.
“The government wants ownership documents before major infrastructure development can take place. That is why schools need clear ownership of their land,” Okot said.He added that government schools should remain neutral institutions serving all learners regardless of religious affiliation, warning that disputes over foundation bodies can undermine school development.
The issue was also highlighted at Kotomor Seed Secondary School, where leaders met parents and teachers to discuss challenges affecting education in the area. Sergio Koko, the Kotomor Seed Secondary School Headteacher, said the school is seeking to improve infrastructure by constructing a girls’ dormitory with support from parents, but continues to face several challenges.
“We do not have a store, practical lessons and ICT facilities are not fully operational, and the school lacks adequate toilets and bathing shelters,” Koko said. Parents welcomed the district’s efforts to address school management challenges and improve learning conditions. Eunice Anyayo, a parent from Kotomor Sub-county, said the establishment of the seed school had improved access to secondary education, although more infrastructure is still needed.
“When the school started, our children studied in a primary school and faced many challenges. Today, there are buildings, but some learners still sleep in classrooms because there is no dormitory,” she said. The land-title directive comes as the district seeks to strengthen education standards and increase school retention. During the monitoring exercise, district leaders also cited teacher absenteeism, staffing shortages, school land encroachment, cattle raids, and inadequate parental support as major challenges affecting education-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
