Authorities in Ntungamo District are raising urgent concerns over worsening security gaps in newly constructed seed secondary schools after a major theft at Nyabihoko Seed Secondary School, where 21 computers were stolen before the school could even enroll its first students.
The incident, now under police investigation, has revealed deep structural and operational weaknesses in the design of seed schools built under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UGIFT) programme.
At Nyabihoko Seed Secondary School, the computer lab remains partially intact, with CPUs, keyboards, mice, and cables left behind — but all monitors missing after a nighttime break-in.
“Thieves took with them 21 sets of computers but the police is investigating,” said Nason Bwesigye, the head teacher of Nyabihoko Seed School.
According to Ntungamo District Education Officer, Dennis Ntare, the school had just been fully equipped for launch.
“Nyabihoko Seed School was equipped with everything that makes learning easy. The thieves broke in at night and took away computers before the school enrolled students and teachers. Police is making a follow-up,” he said.
Local authorities attribute the vulnerability to the lack of security infrastructure. The original seed school construction blueprints did not include perimeter fencing or guard housing, leaving valuable educational equipment exposed.
“For the new curriculum, almost every subject has something to do with ICT. Recently we were given computers but they were stolen,” said Johnson Bazirakye, the LC5 councillor for Nyabihoko.
“The students are affected because the school can’t operate without computers. The school is not fenced and that’s why intruders find it easy to come in.”
Residents have also expressed frustration over what they see as government negligence in protecting the newly built facility.
“We were informed that computers were stolen. We didn’t have security but I blame the government because if the government ensured security, we wouldn’t have such issues,” said Herbert Kagame, a resident.
District officials have since initiated steps to improve safety in all seed schools. Ntungamo Chief Administrative Officer, Fildeus Kizza, said plans are underway to fence the schools using both district and ministry resources.
“After that incident, we consulted the Ministry of Education. We have prepared bills of quantities for fencing and in the coming financial year, we are going to get more money to at least fence those facilities,” Kizza said.
“It was unfortunate that from the beginning, the design of seed schools did not include fencing. The ministry will see how we can be facilitated with resources to ensure these facilities are well fenced because even learners need a secure environment.”
Kizza added that the district would not entirely wait for central government action.
“Through the ordinary planning process as a district, we are going to intervene and provide resources to procure some equipment for our learners to use as we pursue the recovery of the stolen ones. I am hopeful we shall trace them and get the people who stole them,” he said.
The theft at Nyabihoko has amplified concerns nationwide about the vulnerability of seed schools — a flagship government initiative meant to expand access to secondary education in underserved areas.
As investigations continue, education officials say the incident should serve as a wake-up call to secure public investment in rural learning facilities before classes begin.