School boss petitions State House over demolished buildings

MBARARA. The director of Jesus Cares Secondary School in Mbarara District, Mr Matayo Ndyomugyenyi, has petitioned State House over the closure of his school and destruction of its structures by Mbarara Municipal Council officials.
The petition follows the demolition of the school by the municipal officials in a crackdown on substandard schools in February.
Eight schools were closed in the operation. Structures in four of the affected schools were demolished.
The officials said the schools had failed to comply with their earlier call to upgrade to the standards set by government.
Mr Ndyomugyenyi is demanding Shs70 million as compensation.

Grievance
“I was using these buildings for income generating activities before I turned them into classrooms. Instead of only closing the school as they are mandated to do, they also demolished my buildings,” Mr Ndyomugyenyi said.
“Right now my family is suffering. They should have left my buildings and I use them for other businesses,” he added.
In a March 16 letter, the President’s Principal Private Secretary asked the Mbarara town clerk to meet Mr Ndyomugyenyi and discuss the issue.
“The complainant...is desirous of having council compensate him for his demolished building. The purpose of this letter is to request you to meet the complainant and discuss the above issues arising and send a brief on the outcome of the matter,” the letter reads in part.
However, municipal official Johnson Baryantuma last Friday said the buildings were illegally constructed without approval and, therefore, Mr Ndyomugyenyi does not deserve any compensation.