KAMPALA — The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, has urged managers of schools, particularly those founded by the Church, to put school land to productive use to protect it from land grabbers and other forms of encroachment.
Archbishop Kaziimba said idle school land could expose institutions to the risk of illegal occupation and disputes, urging school managers to develop and utilise their properties responsibly.
He made the remarks at Mengo Senior School in Kampala on Saturday while flagging off and participating in the Tambula Mengo Run, a fundraising event organised to support the construction of a nine-storey school block.
The proposed building will include a dining hall and is expected to address some of the school’s infrastructure challenges. The fundraising drive targets Shs18.6 billion.
Archbishop Kaziimba, who was among the participants in the run, also encouraged Ugandans to embrace regular physical exercise, saying it had helped him maintain good health and fitness.
“I am 64 years old, but I am still fit because of the exercise I do. Exercise is truly medicine,” he said.
The Archbishop also raised concern about changing eating habits among children, noting that many families were increasingly losing the culture of sharing meals together.
He urged parents to encourage children to eat at the dining table rather than taking meals to their bedrooms, saying family meals provide an opportunity for parents and children to interact and strengthen family bonds.
The fundraising run attracted several religious leaders and members of the public, including the Dean of Namirembe Cathedral, the Very Rev. Dunstan Kiwanuka Mazinga, and the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, the Rt Rev. Moses Banja.
Mengo Senior School headteacher, Dr Grace Nantaja Ssebanaakita, thanked Church of Uganda leaders, the Buganda Kingdom, Centenary Bank, parents and other well-wishers for supporting the fundraising initiative.
Dr Ssebanaakita said the school currently has about 900 students, while its existing dining facility can accommodate only 600, creating a need for expanded facilities.
“We currently have 900 students, yet our existing dining facility can only accommodate 600. That is why we urgently need this new building and more spacious learning facilities,” she said.
She said about 2,200 people participated in the run and expressed optimism that the funds raised would contribute significantly towards the construction project.
The proposed development is expected to provide additional classrooms and a larger dining facility, with the school targeting completion of the project within four years.
The fundraising initiative is part of efforts by the school to improve its infrastructure and create a more conducive learning environment for its growing student population.