Sister Namukasa named Uganda's best teacher

November 30, will remain a special day in the lives of 12 Ugandan teachers who have been awarded as the most outstanding in this year's edition of the Teachers Making a Difference Competition.

Each of the winners walked home with a cash prize of sh1.5m home, a plaque, certificate, and other gifts for the school.

Among the 12, the top six teachers were also awarded an all-expenses-paid study tour to Ireland, courtesy of New Vision, the Irish Embassy in Uganda, Trocaire, and Simba Travelcare, one of Uganda's leading tour and travel management companies.

The ceremony to award the teachers was held at a colorful ceremony held, at the New Vision offices in Kampala.

The top six include, Sister Theopista Namukasa, the headteacher of St Mary's Immaculate Primary School emerged as the overall winner followed by Ernest Kavulu of Budo Junior School as the first runner up, Sister Pross Nantege, the headteacher Kalas Girls Day and Boarding Primary school emerged second runners up.

In the fourth position, was Buluhan Mulonho of Hama Island Primary School, while Norah Anyait from Matany Primary School and Raymond Kigongo from St Joseph's SS Nkooko in Kakumiro district came fifth and six respectively.

The other winners are Moses Namisi Kafuyo Primary School, Christine Adongo Ogor Community SS, Buker Hkizumwami Seseme Girls' SS, Ruzaza Peace Seseme Girls' SS, Matovu Odonge Banda Primary School and Miriam Birakwate Luzira Prison School.

"I'm very excited to be the top teacher. I give glory to God and would like to thank the New Vision and all the partners for this initiative of identifying us. I promise to use this award to continue inspiring others and making a difference," Namukasa said after she was announced the winner.

The partners of the project have also agreed that the winners of last year's competition, who did not travel, will travel with the new team of winners of this year. This will bring the total of teachers to 12.

Their trip to Ireland was put on hold, due to the COVID-19 deadly pandemic which was sweeping through the entire world. Air transport has been grounded in many countries and some countries had also barred traveling in and out of their boundaries.

Addressing the teachers, the Ireland Ambassador to Uganda, William Carlos pledged more support to Teachers Making a Difference competition and urged teachers to continue being innovative and creating a difference.

"This is a very innovative initiative that we will continue to nurture going forward. We are happy by the commitment you are showing as teachers even during these hard times of COVID-19," Carlos said.

He urged the government to invest in young people through supporting education programs.

"It is important for the government to invest in its young people. They are the backbone of society," Carlos said.

The Assistant Commissioners of TIET Jonathan Kamwana, who represented the Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alex Kakoza urged Ugandans to learn to appreciate teachers for their immense job.

"During the Covid19 pandemic we started home learning using printed materials, radios, and TVs but we found out that something is missing especially assessment which can best be done by a teacher. The role of a teacher is important and in whatever media you use you can't leave a teacher," Kamwana said.

He asked the winners to remain standing out and continue supporting the children.

"These teachers are not going to remain the same. You have motivated them for life. We are very grateful to the partners as a ministry," Kamwana said.

Robert Kabushenga, the Vision Group Managing Director, asked teachers to continue innovative and planting the seeds of transformation.

He appreciated the teachers for remaining on course during the COVID-19 pandemic and coming up with various innovations to ensure children continue learning.

"I think next year we should have an award for the most innovative teacher during Covid. There have been so many innovations which teachers have employed to create a difference," Kabushenga said.

Trócaire Uganda Country Director Ian Dolan attended the function.

The former Director of Basic and Secondary Education Dr Yusuf Nsubuga who was part of the jury, for this year's competition commended the winners for being very innovative.

"We live in a world of scarcity; for people to make a difference they must be innovative. As you have seen many have been able to raise enrollment in very challenging situations, from nothing they have come up with great ideas like opening gardens, school feeding among others," Nsubuga said.

He said the winners also proved that they had community engagement programs which are key in providing education and managing schools.

The Director and founder of Victorious Education Services Dr Barbara Ofwono, said the winners are passionate about children and the community.

"It is not about teaching but empowering life to be useful.  Fighting for girls not to get pregnant and helping them get back to school. They are not doing this to impress anyone but to improve lives," Ofwono said.

She highlighted examples of some of the winners who decided to live their comfortable lives in towns to go and teach in villages.

"There is a special story from Luzira where one teacher has committed her life to transform lives of the inmates despite getting offers for better jobs. She is passionate," Ofwono said.

She however called for more efforts towards empowering the boy child who seems to be neglected and all focus put on the girl child.

"No one is specifically empowering the boy child. If we don't empower the boy child, we are not solving any problem. Let us empower all children for a better world," Ofwono said.

The Teachers Making a Difference project is part of the Vision Group's Ugandans Making a Difference initiative launched in 2005.

The initiative recognises the most creative and innovative teachers working in difficult environments. 

They mobilise their communities to send and keep their children in school, are creative in using limited resources to deliver quality education, pay attention to co-curricular and vocational studies activities, and also support the neighbouring communities.

The project focuses on all professional teachers innovatively delivering the school curriculum; from pre-primary to advanced level of education, including technical and vocational training institutions.

A total of 60 teachers were profiled in New Vision this year, and of these, out 700 nominations.