Parents of Bugondha primary school in Mbulamuti sub-county, Kamuli district on Tuesday July 4, 2023 lost their cool and locked the classrooms and Administrative block in protest of teachers’ absenteeism and late coming
The enraged parents led by the area sub county councilor, Emmanuel Waako Mukisa closed the school at 10:00am when no teacher had arrived for duty including the headteacher, Emmanuel Menha.
Mukisa and the group say they are irritated by the teachers’ absenteeism which the school Administration and district authorities have failed to tame.
“For quite some time we have been receiving complaints from children of late coming which affect study time table,” they alleged.
The act prompted the Kamuli Resident District Commissioner, Rose Birungi to visit the school on Wednesday July 5, 2023.
On arrival, Birungi found a group of parents who had pitched camp at the school demanding for an explanation from the staff about their negligence of duty. Area District Councilor, Chris Chrizostom Wabwire was addressing them on the benefits of education.
These parents informed the RDC in a crisis meeting that Menha and his staff also stole more than 200kgs of maize collected by the parents for their children to eat porridge at school.
“That Headmaster you are seeing there and his staff, come [to work] at 10:00am. We collected maize here but it disappeared from the school before our children could eat it,” one parent furiously pinned the staff.
Another female parent informed the RDC that the school operated a boarding section for P.5, P.6 and P.7 without the required facilities.
“Our children sleep in those dormitories without a matron and patron. They sleep here alone like married husbands and wives,” she said.
Asked repond to the allegations put forward, the HM Mr Menha admitted that whatever was tabled by the parents was true.
“Madam RDC it true. But we promise to improve. We are also going to recruit a matron and a patron and to replace the maize,” he reportedly said.
A section of parents then lauded the headteacher’s gesture of humility and promised to continue supporting him.
RDC Rose Birungi confirmed this report on Thursday.
She told the Eye Media that on cross checking, it was evident in the arrival book that the teachers arrived late.
“They courageously indicated 9:40am 10:30am as their arrival time,” she said.
The RDC asked the Headteacher to improve and also prevail over his staff.
She also condemned the act of closing the school by the parents and warned the area councilor never to repeat it since he has no mandate to it.
