Makerere sacks Hyuha, UPE report begins to bite

By Anthony Mugeere The "UPE schools raid" report began to bite last week with the arrest of the headmistress of Nakivubo Blue primary school, Kansiime Bwesigye and her second deputy, Josephine Nakibuuka. The two appeared before Charles Kisakye the Buganda Road Court Magistrate, last Friday for allegedly inflating the number of pupils under the UPE programme by 402 ghost pupils. Oooops! The suspects, however, denied the charges and were promptly remanded in Luzira Prison until November 8 when another hearing will be held. Talking of UPE raids, it will not be long before primary schools in Entebbe sub-district are probed following claims that headteachers are also involved in inflating the number of pupils to get more funds under the UPE programme. We have always asked when the exercise will be extended to other parts of the country. Now, it appears the raid on Entebbe schools is eminent since some headteachers have refused to submit accountability reports for the UPE funds to the office of the Assistant RDC, Francis Rubani. Meanwhile, the honeymoon continues in Masaka district but that won't stop the arrest and prosecution of private primary school headteachers who steal government textbooks. Khiddu Makubuya, Education minister, has for the last four months complained about the rampant theft of textbooks particularly in Masaka district. Freedom of worship in schools had never come under scrutiny until last week when Jotham Tumwesigye, the IGG, directed the education ministry to draw guidelines to address the controversial issue of freedom of worship in inter-denominational schools. The directive comes after two Muslim students-Saidi Kabandegere and Yasin Kawesa- were dismissed three months ago for innocently receiving Holy Communion during a mass at Our Lady Consolata SSS, Bweyogerere. Last Wednesday was the official day Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha ceased to be a staff member of Makerere University. The University Appointments Board finally cast the dice by upholding the probe committee recommendation that Hyuha be sacked. He will run away with all his terminal benefits. It is the end of a saga, the end of the Mukwanason era! Ends.