Masindi councillors divided over transfer of UTC Kyema land title
He appealed to the council to approve the transfer, saying it would enable the college to access more government funding and support from development partners.
Masindi: Masindi District councillors are divided over a resolution to transfer the land title of Uganda Technical College (UTC) Kyema from the district local government to the institution, amid concerns about accountability, development opportunities and the protection of district interests.
The college occupies 69 acres of land in Kyema Cell, Kihuuba Ward, Karujubu Division in Masindi Municipality.
The matter arose during an extraordinary council sitting at the district council chambers, where Bright Mugume, the Kimengo Sub-county district councillor, district vice chairman and council business leader, tabled a motion seeking the transfer of the land title.
Mugume argued that the title, currently registered in the names of Masindi District Local Government, had hindered the institution from benefiting from development projects supported by organisations such as the World Bank.
Jack Ovua, the Community Liaison Officer at UTC Kyema, told councillors that the institution had missed out on several equipment and development projects because the land title was not registered in its name.
He appealed to the council to approve the transfer, saying it would enable the college to access more government funding and support from development partners.
Nicholas Babyetera, the councillor representing Bwijanga Sub-county, supported the proposal, arguing that the district had held the land title without adequately developing the institution.
He said transferring the title would enable the college to lobby for government programmes and attract support from other development partners.
Juma Wahid Babyesiza, the district councillor for Labbongo Sub-county, also backed the proposal, saying the transfer would help the college secure government and donor support, ultimately benefiting the surrounding communities.
Simon Byaruhanga, the district secretary for finance, urged councillors to approve the transfer, citing projects the college had reportedly lost because of the land title issue.
He assured the council that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the district and the college administration to safeguard the interests of both parties.
However, Peter Ndabi, the councillor representing Nyangahya Division, opposed the proposal, arguing that UTC Kyema was the only higher institution in Masindi and that the government could have plans for the land that differ from those of the district local government.
He called for broader consultations with stakeholders before the title could be transferred.
Before the resolution was passed, Masindi District Council Speaker Patrick Bright Tibiganbwa said councillors and other stakeholders would be consulted on the memorandum of understanding to guide the transfer process.
Councillors walk out over resolution
The decision sparked protests from a section of councillors who walked out of the council sitting, opposing the transfer before a memorandum of understanding had been signed.
John Kisarach, the councillor representing Kyatiri Town Council, criticised the process, arguing that councillors and other stakeholders had not been given adequate time to deliberate on the matter.
Christopher Acidri, the councillor representing Nyantonzi Sub-county, said the dissenting councillors would petition against the resolution, claiming that the process had been biased.
Cleophas Bigirwa, the councillor representing Karujubu Division, also questioned the rationale behind the proposed transfer, arguing that the district had overseen the development of the college while retaining ownership of the land title.
Bigirwa alleged that some councillors and the speaker had been compromised to support the resolution, an allegation that was not independently verified.
He called for the district to first agree on safeguards with the college administration before handing over the title, warning that the district’s interests must be protected.
UTC Kyema currently has an enrolment of more than 1,300 students, making it one of the key technical training institutions serving Masindi and the wider Bunyoro sub-region.
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