Here, heads can spend months immersed in bureaucratic forms if they want to oppose changes to the speed limit or the double yellow lines outside their school gates.

But Fred Kasiisa, head of Iganga School, simply called in police officers to stop a road that was to be built along his school boundary.

He was not confronting junior council bureaucrats, either. The road had been commissioned by the Rt Rev Dr Michael Kyomya, bishop of Busoga diocese, to give access to the new All Saints Church.

Undaunted, Mr Kasiisa argued that the road’s proximity to the school would pose a security threat.

When Bishop Kyomya arrived with great fanfare to walk the route, he was met by police carrying guns and batons, reports New Vision, Uganda’s leading daily newspaper.

The district police commander, Joseph Engwedu, also turned away a large road grader and a group of road labourers.