Bamwine calls for probe into school strikes

The Principal Judge, Yorokamu Bamwine has condemned the use of strikes in schools as a means of solving problems in the institutions of learning.

"I want to condemn the strikes in the strongest terms possible. Top management should always listen to students concern in a bid to avoid strikes," he advised. 

Bamwine made the remarks during a meeting held by old boys of Mutuyera High School Kitunga Association at Serena Hotel in Kampala. The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe and Bamwine are products of the school. 

He urged the school's top management to be on the alert to curb such incidents before it escalates because it leads to loss of lives and destruction of property. 

"Schools these days are affected by frequent strikes. So we need to know the root cause and find solutions to it as soon as possible," he stated.     

Citing the recent Makerere University strike, Bamwine challenged the Education Ministry to investigate the matter and table its findings. 

Recently, Makerere University lecturers laid down their tools, demanding sh32b in allowance arrears for eight months, leaving over 35,000 students stranded with no lectures until the university was closed up to date. 

Muntuyera High School Kitunga is a 51-year old boys secondary school located in Ntungamo district, south western Uganda. The school was named after the father of Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president. 

Commenting on the association, Bamwine said it has managed to bring old boys together who join hands to assess the strength and weaknesses of their school in a bid to improve its standard. 

He noted that during olden days, the school had over 15, 000 students but now 500, and yet it used to be an academic power house.  

During the meeting, Bamwine handed over to city lawyer Enos Tumusiime, the former managing director of Uganda Railways Corporation as chairman.  

"During our time, we had a dinning made of papyrus stems. The great auditors, lawyers and Judges came from there. Therefore it is not about the fallouts but what you make from it," Tumusiime said. 

He called upon old boys to set standards for the school by supporting the management team.   

The secretary to the association, Danson Bank Ngaba said the new executive is struggling to engage all stake holders in a bid to bring back the school to its former glory. 

He said the school used to be powerful but it has now declined in terms of academic standard and enrolment, which worries them.

"As old boys we are meeting to find out what went wrong and what can be done to revamp the school's glory". 

The association has pledged to provide the school with newspapers, computers, text books and soccer balls to motivate students. 

According to the head teacher, Steven Atuhaire the declining number of students at the school is as a result of poor academic performance and indiscipline. 

New Vision has also learnt that the school owes creditors sh350m.