UNATU lashes at UNEB and ministry of Education

By Aloysius Byamukama

Uganda National Teacher’s Union (UNATU) chairman, James Tweheyo has criticized both UNEB and the Ministry of Education and Sports, for neglecting teachers who face disasters while in line of duty.

Tweheyo said UNEB should have done more than sending just 600,000 shillings for the burial of late Samuel Kwetegyeka, a teacher who died in an accident on his way from Ntungamo where he had gone to scout PLE.

trueLate Samuel Kwetegyeka

“When a civial servant dies in line of duty, he/she should be catered for in all aspects, but the government departments have completely neglected this, especially when it comes to teachers,” Tweheyo said.

Adding, “We have teachers who died long time ago but their death gratuity has never been processed by the ministry. Others are suffering injuries sustained during strikes at school, lightening and other disasters, but the  Permanent secretary (Ministry of Education) is not doing the job required of him,”

Tweheyo said the ministry should have straight forward occupational safety measures, not only for teachers, but for all public servants.

On contrary the UNEB spokesperson, Hamis Kaheru said the institution only catered for the funeral expenses and that it will not go further to do any other thing for the family.

“We are aware of his death while on his way from UNEB duty, but we did what we could and sent our condolences. If he had died in the examination room, we would have taken a different action, but now, there is nothing we can add after the condolence message,” Kaheru said.