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Hoima Public School in Hoima city that is at the verge of demolition by Indians to construct a shopping mall. Photo by Stuart Twinomujuni.
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Constructed by Indians in 1944, the aim was to promote the education of Indian children who were born and living in Uganda by then but later started working with the natives, granting them the opportunity to take their children there.
In 1972, Indians (part of the Asians) were expelled from Uganda by the then-President Idi Amin, and the government regained control and management of the school.
Subsequently, in 1976, the government of Uganda through the British High Commission and UNHCR, compensated the Indians who were expelled after realizing they had lost their investments to Uganda.
This is attested in a letter seen by Torch Media Africa dated 7th June 1999 by the Bank of Uganda to the Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, calling for investigations into compensated expropriated Asian properties.
The letter reveals that all Asians whose properties were expropriated in 1972-1973 were fully compensated and in doing so, there was the location of property for each individual, the amount that was compensated, and the date of compensation.
Now, a group of Indians claiming to represent the Indian Custodian Board is advancing the possibility of taking over Hoima Public School for the construction of a shopping mall and a crematory ground. This attracted intervention by State Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Dr. Sam Mayanja.
Last week, the minister visited the school and announced how he will use the State House Anti-corruption Unit (SHACU), currently headed by Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, to investigate fraudulent claims surrounding Hoima Public Primary School land in Hoima city.
Minister of state for Lands Dr. Sam Mayanja speaking to residents after information of purported plans to construct a shopping mall in the school compound leaked. Photo by Stuart Twinomujuni.
Apparently, a telecommunication mast has been raised in the school compound amidst public resistance and according to Minister Mayanja, development too will be investigated. The minister has been compelled to halt all developments that were underway including purported plans to establish shopping malls around the school.
According to Dr. Mayanja, whoever has participated in the alleged illegalities around the school will be held accountable.
“Any further actions not related to learning are illegal and I hereby suspend them until investigations by the State House Anti-corruption unit are complete,” said the Minister.
The Minister also ordered that all technical staff who append their signatures on proposals intended to change the status quo of the school for the establishment of the shopping mall must have their job contracts terminated.
In his opinion, the Indian Association of Uganda that holds a land title must be paid-off and the school remains a purely public one. The majority of the local leaders, including Hoima’s Resident City Commissioner Badru Mugabe, maintained the minister’s position of eliminating the Indians.
Dharmesh Patel, a board member of the Indian Association of Uganda, has however, dismissed allegations that they are scheming to fully take over Hoima Public Primary School for different developments.
“We are waiting for an official letter from the minister, but the fact is that there is no new development going on that can be halted,” he said. He, however, insisted that the facility belongs to them.
Hoima Public school currently has an enrollment of over 1000 students, according to the head teacher Harriet Karungi.
