The Bishop of Busoga Diocese, Samson Paul Moses Naimanhye, has issued a stern call to the government, urging them to move beyond intimidation and silence, and instead actively listen to and address the grievances of teachers.
The impassioned plea was made Thursday morning during the Blessing of Candidates for Kamuli Girls Boarding Primary School, where Bishop Naimanhye highlighted the critical state of the teaching profession and its potential impact on the nation’s education sector.
Bishop Naimanhye expressed deep concern that while the ruling NRM party touts its manifesto of protecting gains, the very educators who have been instrumental in achieving universal education are being neglected.
“It becomes an ironical mockery,” he stated, “for the Government and NRM Party to claim the election manifesto is to protect the gains yet the most precious gain it has made is neglected.”
The Bishop warned that the current situation, characterized by widespread teacher dissatisfaction and potential strikes, could lead to an unprecedented decline in academic performance.
He directly challenged the approach of local authorities, referencing “unfortunate remarks” made by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) regarding teachers’ industrial action.
“As the church and shepherds,” Bishop Naimanhye appealed, “we ask the government to listen and address the teachers’ plight because they are the ones who have sustained the NRM Universal Education, a gain it is seeking to protect.”
Describing the ground reality as “appalling, demoralizing, pathetic, and deplorable to ignore,” the Bishop cautioned that continued neglect could precipitate an education disaster at a time when significant resources are reportedly being diverted to election campaigns.
“We may ignore teachers’ plight, but its effects are going to be glaring, so don’t expect good performance this time. No one should blame schools when the results come back worst, because it is going to be a national disaster and time bomb,” he predicted.
Bishop Naimanhye also commended the headteacher of Kamuli Girls, Joy Kasana Muwanika, for her dedication to the welfare of the students. He stressed the importance of government and foundation bodies working collaboratively to ensure conducive learning environments and supportive policies for educational institutions.
He pointed to the struggle to secure a female headteacher for the girls’ school as an example of existing policy challenges, noting that had the government’s policy of closing teacher training colleges persisted, qualified educators would be even scarcer.
He highlighted the financial burden on parents at Kamuli Girls, who are currently funding 24 out of 45 teachers, and contrasted this with the even more dire situation in rural schools.
Furthermore, Bishop Naimanhye addressed the persistent issues of teenage pregnancies and child marriages, unequivocally condemning them as “unacceptable vices, sins religiously and abominations culturally.”
He stressed that keeping girls in school is paramount to combating these societal ills. “We need to rediscover our values, social norms, and parenting values to act and bring up children responsibly,” he urged.
Muwanika, headteacher of Kamuli Girls, expressed gratitude for the Bishop’s guidance and the church’s support, assuring parents that the school’s 98 candidates are well-prepared for their Primary Leaving Examinations.
She lauded the Bishop’s “unwavering faith and tireless efforts” in fostering collaboration, infrastructure development, and spiritual guidance, which have laid a strong foundation for the school’s progress.
Muwanika affirmed that the girls have been nurtured to be individuals of “dignity, substance, and competence.”
