Kibuku, Uganda: Government has officially commissioned the construction of Tirinyi Seed Secondary School in Tirinyi Town Council, Kibuku District, under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), in a major move aimed at expanding access to secondary education in underserved communities.
The Shs3.25 billion project, being implemented by HL Construction Limited, was launched on May 20, 2026, and is expected to be completed within 10 months.
Once completed, Tirinyi Town Council will become the eighth sub-county in Kibuku District to have a government-aided secondary school, although district leaders revealed that 14 sub-counties still lack government-aided secondary schools despite the government policy requiring at least one government-aided secondary school in every sub-county.
The development comes amid growing calls for improved education infrastructure in the district, where some existing schools continue to struggle with inadequate facilities despite increasing enrolment.
According to project details, the school will comprise an administration block, a multipurpose hall complete with furniture, a fully equipped science laboratory, an ICT laboratory fitted with computers and internet connectivity, a library, eight lower secondary classrooms, accommodation for six teachers with kitchens and latrines, separate girls’ and boys’ latrine blocks, a playground, and a borehole connected to a water tank.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, HL Construction Limited representative Kawuki Leonard Lukwago assured residents and leaders that the contractor would deliver quality work within the stipulated timeframe.
“We are grateful for the opportunity given to us by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Education and Sports to implement this prestigious project,” Lukwago said.
He noted that the company had previously handled several education infrastructure projects in Eastern Uganda, including works at Mbale Secondary School, Nabumali High School and Nyondo Primary Teachers College.
“Our motto is timely delivery, quality work and ultimate client satisfaction. We have the technical capacity, resources and experience required to execute this project successfully,” he added.
Kibuku District Secretary for Works, Production and Technical Services, Hon. Majanga Augustine warned contractors against poor workmanship, project delays and intimidation of local leaders.
“We want quality work, timely delivery, community participation, safety and environmental protection. Contractors should come prepared to do the right thing instead of relying on connections from Kampala,” Majanga said.
Kibuku District Chairperson Hajji Nakeba Muhammad described the project as a major milestone for the district and applauded government for extending secondary education services closer to communities.
“This is a community school, and we are grateful to the government for bringing this project to our district,” Nakeba said.
He appealed to the contractor to prioritise local labour and locally available construction materials so surrounding communities can benefit economically from the project.
“Where possible, employ our people and buy materials locally because the community also needs to benefit from this project,” he said.
The district chairperson also warned residents against engaging in informal financial dealings with contractors following previous incidents where suppliers and money lenders reportedly lost money after extending goods and loans without proper documentation.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Basalilwa John called upon the Ministry of Education and Sports to reconsider recruitment policies affecting teachers who have been volunteering in community-founded schools before government takeover.
“If these teachers qualify, they should be given priority during recruitment because they have sacrificed to keep these schools operational,” Basalilwa said.
He also assured the contractor and surrounding communities of adequate security throughout the implementation period.
“We have a police station nearby, and security will be provided. We do not expect cases of theft of construction materials because security personnel are available,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the school administration, deputy head teacher Mulongo Janet revealed that the school was established through community efforts in 2018 before later receiving support from the town council and district leadership.
She explained that the school initially operated on land allocated by the Church of Uganda before Tirinyi Town Council later secured approximately six acres of land and processed a land title to support government accreditation requirements.
“We currently have around 30 teachers and five non-teaching staff who have been volunteering to keep the school running,” Janet said.
She added that the school currently has an enrolment of about 500 learners, many of whom study under trees due to inadequate infrastructure.
“We have been operating under difficult conditions, but today we are happy to witness the beginning of this project. We appeal to government to consider the volunteer teachers during recruitment because they have sacrificed for many years,” she said.
Kibuku District Education Officer Wamika Christopher said many residents had for years doubted whether the project would ever materialise, but the commissioning had now fulfilled government’s pledge to the area.
“Today this dream has come to pass. The school has officially been commissioned and construction is now beginning,” Wamika said.
He urged parents to mobilise children to enrol once the school becomes operational so the community can fully benefit from the investment.
The education officer also cautioned parents and community members to remain vigilant during the construction period, warning that many workers would be operating at the site and children, especially girls, should be protected from exploitation and irresponsible behaviour.
Leaders clarified that although the school initially operated on land offered by the church, it later secured independent ownership after Tirinyi Town Council allocated land and processed a land title to support accreditation by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Residents welcomed the project, expressing optimism that the new school will reduce long distances travelled by learners in search of secondary education while improving education standards within Kibuku District.
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