Africa-Press – Uganda. The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, has warned that ongoing land wrangles affecting schools under the city authority pose a serious threat to education, urging urgent protection of school land as he prepares to leave office.
“If we need to develop, we must protect school land,” Lukwago said on Tuesday. “As my time comes to an end, this is a fight that must continue.”
He made the remarks at Kitante Primary School during a reading session with pupils, which he described as his final participation in the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Day as Lord Mayor ahead of the end of his term in May.
The event, held under the theme “Creating Hope Through Reading,” is part of a week-long initiative by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to promote a reading culture among learners in the capital.
Lukwago, seated among hundreds of pupils, read from a children’s book titled The Wise King and encouraged learners to embrace reading as a pathway to success.
“Trust yourselves. Have hope that you can make it. Read hard, because reading will make you great,” he said.
KCCA oversees more than 2,300 schools, including 79 public institutions, but officials say many face persistent land disputes that hinder expansion and infrastructure development.
At Kitante Primary School, the pressure is visible. The school accommodates about 3,600 pupils and operates with a teacher-to-pupil ratio of approximately 1:170, underscoring the strain on available resources.
School headteacher Kyakuwa Mugisha emphasized the role of reading in shaping learners’ futures, saying access to books remains critical to improving education outcomes.
“Reading is key in education. Books open doors to knowledge,” he said.
Pupils also highlighted the impact of learning materials on their academic growth. Emmanuella Akol, a Primary Six learner, said books have broadened their understanding and inspired ambition.
“Books open our minds, build our knowledge and a better future. We want to become leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
KCCA is marking DEAR Week from March 16 to 19 with activities including mentorship visits, reading sessions and book donations to schools, culminating in a city-wide quiz competition.
Education experts say such initiatives are vital in strengthening literacy and fostering a culture of reading among children, even as authorities grapple with structural challenges such as land disputes and overcrowding in urban schools.
