By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
Donors have suspended funding to four primary schools and Great Lakes University in Kanungu district, threatening the future of 24000 students in various institutions.
The move follows confusion over ownership of the projects established in the area by the Child and Family Community Development Organization (CHIFCOD).
The move to suspend the funding follows the move by security operatives in the district and Bishop Hamlet Kabushenga to take over the institutions, defying a court order that had allowed the current administrators to take charge of the institutions up to when the matter is disposed of by court.
Dr. Kabushenga, with the assistance of the RDC and Deputy RDC Kanungu, the DPC Kanungu, Charles Okello, and one John Nuwagira, who works with the Inspector General of Police, proceeded to evict all GLRU and CEL school teachers at the barrel of a gun.
All this happened on January 2, 2023, during the pendency of said injunction and ministerial directions that no evictions ensue between December 23, 2022, and January 6, 2023, by the minister of land, housing, and urban development.
Pending the hearing of the above suit, Hon. Justice Anna B. Mugyenyi issued an injunction maintaining the status quo in relation to the affairs of GLRU and CEL until the determination of the main suit.
Over the last 20 years, the donors have bankrolled the acquisition, management, and operations of these projects. The sums involved in these projects exceed USD 5,000,000 (United States Dollars 5 million).
Now, Wilkins Natukwasa Honest, one of the directors of Great Lakes University and CHIFCOD Schools, observes that the Kanungu community is missing out on the best services from institutions that have been influenced by some corruption and bribery among the security agencies that have forcibly evicted them.
He expresses regret over the donor’s decision, citing their disappointment after long-term charitable investments in Kanungu’s and Ugandans’ livelihoods.
He revealed that they are doing all they can to legally proceed and sort the matter, saying that they are legally acceptable managers of the institutions as per the court order from the commercial court civil division.
He requested that the government not allow such impunity to occur in order to avoid harassing people and learners.
The affected institutions include Great Lakes Regional University, Great Lakes High School, Kirima Parents School, Nyakabungo Parents Primary School, Nyamirama Parents Primary School, Rutenga Parents Primary School, and Kataate Hospital Project.
For years, the university’s ownership has been contested in court by Dr Hamlet Mbabazi Kabushenga, the university’s founder, and administrators led by Honest Wilkins Natukwasa, the current university director.
Kabushenga was the university’s founder since its establishment in 2004 until June 2016, when the university’s funders, the Child to Family Community Development Organization (CHIFCOD), ordered him to resign over allegations of mismanagement of funds.
CHIFCOD also funds the progress of Great Lakes High School, Nyamirama Parents Primary School, Kirima Parents Primary School, Rutenga Parents Primary School, Nyakabungo Parents Primary School, and Kataate Health Center IV in Kanungu district.
In a letter dated September 25, 2021, addressed to Joan Turyamwebarize, the university council chairperson, Kabushenga tendered his resignation.
Kabushenga argued that Natukwasa is not supposed to open the institution and that the University Vice-Chancellor, Dorothy Kabugo, has been sacked under his leadership. Kabushenga also argued that he had appointed Godfrey Karabenda Tumwebaze as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Karabenda is also the Kanungu town council mayor.
However, Wilkens Natukwasa says that Kabushenga is not supposed to be on the university premises since he resigned. Natukwasa also says that so far, the university recognizes Chancellor Dr. Holga Halter Liso, a German national, as chancellor but not Dr. Kabushenga.
Kabushenga says that those claiming ownership of the university are impersonators and encroachers on his property.
ENDZ//
