BUYENDE — The family of the late Yeremiya Katoto and Yeremiya Bagiire has officially donated 8.6 acres of land to Busoga Diocese, handing over a land title and signing a deed of donation for property on which Ngandho Primary School and the parish headquarters of the Church of Uganda are situated.
The donation ceremony was held in Ngandho Parish, Budiope East, Buyende District.
Presenting the land title to the Bishop of Busoga, John Bagiire, speaking on behalf of the family, described the donation as the fulfilment of a long-held vision by his grandfather and father, who were among the pioneers of education and Christianity in the area.
“My father, Yeremiya Bagiire, was a primary school teacher who established this school in 1958, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, Yeremiya Katoto, who was a catechist. He had initially constructed a grass-thatched church to enhance educational standards and foster spiritual growth. We are grateful that their aspirations have been realized,” Bagiire said.
He explained that the family consulted the Ministry of Education before processing the land title and completing the donation.
Bagiire urged community members to focus on development rather than disputes that have previously affected the area and cautioned the church against selling the donated land.
Buyende District Education Officer Dison Bwire commended the family for securing the land title and formally donating it to the diocese, describing the move as a significant contribution to the education sector.
Bwire said the family worked closely with officials from the Ministry of Education under the supervision of George Mutekanga, the Commissioner for Education, to ensure that the land was properly documented before it was officially handed over.
George Ngobi, the LC I chairperson of Ngandho Village, praised the family's contribution to the community and described the donation as a major step toward securing the future of both the school and the church.
Busoga Diocesan Bishop Prof. Grace Lubaale said the donation marked an important milestone for the Church of Uganda and could serve as a model for resolving land disputes affecting schools and churches across the diocese.
“Today is a notable milestone achievement witnessed in the life of the Church in Busoga as I witness the donation of 8.6 acres of land from the Bagiire family,” Bishop Lubaale said.
The bishop noted that the school, originally known as Bagiire Primary School, was later renamed Ngandho Primary School, a change he said contributed to a misunderstanding that fuelled conflict over ownership and use of the land for more than three decades.
“Sometime in the last 30 years there has been conflict as the community thought it was school land and wanted the church to leave, yet they are inseparable,” he said.
Lubaale said land disputes remain a challenge in several parts of the diocese, often driven by inadequate documentation, selfish interests and alleged forgery.
He, however, expressed confidence that ongoing efforts to address the disputes would yield results.
“Those conflicts tend to exist in some places and we are handling them case by case and within two years, there will be total stability,” he said.
The donation is expected to provide long-term security for both the school and the church while strengthening efforts to resolve land ownership disputes that have affected educational and religious institutions in Busoga.