Iganga School closed over unpaid salaries

By George Bita

Namasoga Secondary School in Iganga district did not open for second term this year due to failure by administrators to pay teachers' salaries.

At least 120 students of the mixed O' level community school located in Namasoga village, Bulamagi sub-county reported back on May 14 only to find no teacher at the school.

Esther Kaudha, an S3 student told the New Vision on Tuesday that most students had already relocated to other schools.
“Some went to Bulanga Parents Academy in Luuka district; others went to Baitambogwe SS in Mayuge district while a sizeable number now walks over six kilometres to schools in Iganga town,” Kaudha disclosed.

Tom Kooma, head of science department said disgruntled teachers decided to stay away after unsuccessfully demanding for hefty sums of cash in arrears.

“There was alot of improvisation and sacrifice on the part of the teachers but management failed to meet its part of the bargain,” Kooma said.

Yusuf Menya, the director of studies noted that it was so unfortunate to lose all students when the school was working out modalities to join the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme.

Former LC3 chief Abdullah Balunywa explained that construction of the school started in 2000 as an initiative of the sub-county but the headmaster one Julius Mwesigwa and school director Richard Kiribaki derailed its development.
“No wonder both of them have disappeared from the school leaving no trace of their current whereabouts,” Balunywa observed.

According to Balunywa, the local government built the two-classroom block that accommodated S.1 and S.2 while S.3 and S.4 classes used the adjacent church building.

Frida Nakirya, a parent said that she was paying Sh50, 000 per term as tuition fees for her daughter who was in S.2.
Charles Basembera, the LC3 chairman said he was not aware that the school had been closed and would endeavour to find out.

“I wanted to get there sometime back but lacked fuel. Somebody took my motorcycle but I will try and get there since I hear there are secret meetings going on about that school,” Basembera said.

Baker Kasadakawo, Iganga district education officer said he was yet to get a report from the inspectorate department about the school's status.