Masindi Council Divided Over Transfer of Kyema UTC Land Title

A heated debate erupted during an extraordinary council sitting in Masindi District on Wednesday as leaders failed to reach a consensus on transferring the Uganda Technical College (UTC) Kyema land title. The 69-acre property, situated in Karujubu Division, Masindi Municipality, is currently registered under the Masindi District Local Government rather than the educational institution itself.

Tabled by Kimengo sub-county Councillor and District Vice Chairman Bright Mugume, the motion sought to shift ownership to help the college unlock major development financing. Supporters, including UTC Kyema Community Liaison Officer Jack Ovoya, argued that the current registration arrangement has blocked the college from securing crucial multi-million-shilling infrastructure funding from partners like the World Bank, ultimately hurting student learning conditions.

Proponents of the transfer assured the house that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be drafted and scrutinized by the council to safeguard district interests before any final handover takes place. However, dissenting councillors strongly opposed the move. Nyangahya Division Councillor Peter Ndabi warned that relinquishing the title means the district will permanently lose authority over its sole higher institution of learning, citing past instances where government educational land use changes frustrated local community priorities.

Other leaders, such as Nyantonzi Sub-county Councillor Christopher Acidri, demanded deeper stakeholder consultations and raised accountability concerns regarding past institutional funding. Despite the pushback, District Speaker Patrick Bright Tibiganbwa proceeded with the proceedings, assuring members that technical teams would handle the MoU details. The decision sparked a dramatic walkout by opposing councillors who accused the speaker of bias and vowed to challenge the resolution, according to the Daily Monitor.