Busoga Diocese lauds teachers on returning to class, calls for shared vision

JINJA - Busoga Anglican Diocese has joined the First Lady, also Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, in hailing arts teachers for their decision to return to classes.

According to the diocesan lands and estates officer, the Rev. Can. Aggrey Mutebi, the four-week industrial action over pay rise was a disservice to both the vulnerable parents and their children, but their decision was for the good of their communities and country.

Despite teachers being vulnerable since majority of their children were also learning from their respective schools, Mutebe said they needed to improvise other means of bringing their plights out than striking.

“I speak in good faith, the striking teachers did a disservice to their fellow vulnerable parents because majority were sending their children to such schools,” he noted.

During prayers dubbed Service ya Waka at the Jinja local NBS FM radio hosted by Joshua Erieza Isabirye every Sunday, the clergy, who is also the Vicar at St. Andrew's parish Magamaga-Wabulungu located in Baitambogwe sub-county, Mayuge district, revealed how some school management committee (SMC) members were influencing the strike in the area.

He said some teachers defied the strike and continued teaching because they had their own children in the affected schools.

“A chairperson attempted to convince one of the headteachers to close, but he refused, saying his children were part of the pupils who would also be affected. The children of those who were influenced were not studying in such affected schools,” he said.
Kaliro district senior education officer Moses Wambuzi Kamanya said the strike had rendered learners idle.

Call for shared vision

In Mayuge district, Mutebe said most of the learners resorted to offering cheap labour by cutting sugar cane.

He said the attitude of many children, especially boys, had changed as a result of not keeping in school and that they were not wishing to return.

He implored teachers to have what he termed as a ‘shared vision’ for their communities, region and Uganda at large for the education sector to thrive.

“If we want Busoga to regain its lost academic glory, it requires unity and perseverance rather than obstacles that could be addressed amicably,” he noted.

The clergy told teachers to come up with different ways of striking to avoid causing pain to the learners.

Iganga parents push for compensation for wasted time

Ivan Maganda, a boda-boda rider in Namungalwe town council, Iganga district reminded government how teachers were the foundation of the country.

“All our civil servants in various positions have passed through the hands of teachers; government must prioritise them equally if the nation is to grow instead of handling their salaries selectively,” Maganda emphasised.

However, Yokana Mukisa, another resident, asked the Government not to pay their salary for the month they never taught.

“We request the Government to forego the teachers’ salary for the one month they have been on strike because they caused our children to miss a lot, which might affect their promotions to other classes, including the primary seven candidates,” Mukisa suggested.

Instead, locals asked for the extension of this third term by a month so that teachers can compensate for the wasted time and complete the syllabus.

However, they had mixed inputs on when the term would end, with some suggesting at least running until November, while others settled for December.

Abdallah Kiiza Kyasanku of Namungalwe town council said schools needed to break off on November 28, while Moses Mudhasi, of Kalungami, suggested December 18, 2025.

“If they don’t accept to extend the term, let them not be paid because they have not worked for it, what is the essence of earning what they have not toiled for?” Mudhasi asked.

In case children didn’t perform at the end of the term, they also recommended for the teachers’ dismissal in their respective schools, and government recruits new cadres.

“Any government school which will not perform at the end of this year, let the teachers be dismissed for frustrating education in the country,” Samuel Balikoowa of Bulumwaki village, Namungalwe sub-county, said.

Also, Balikoowa said many teachers were found engaging in boda-boda riding business, gambling and alcoholism during class time.

James Kabaale, another resident, cited Kawete, Nasuti, Bulumwaki primary schools, where teachers were found to be absent, late coming, engaging in alcoholism, gaming and engaging in boda-boda riding.

Kabaale asked government to attend to the teachers' plea, but also suggested the deployment of soldiers in all government-aided primary schools to curb the vices.

“We are always with these teachers in the trading centre during class time, we ask government to at least deploy a soldier in each school to ensure that they remain in classes, this will tame them,” he suggested.