By Gerald Niyirinda
The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) Chairperson Kisoro branch, Alex Matata has praised the district leaders for transferring the Kisoro District Senior Records officer, Molly Nyiramahoro who is accused of mismanaging the files of civil servants including teachers.
Matata made the remarks yesterday during the World Teachers Day Celebrations at Mubano Hotel in Kisoro Municipality.
According to Matata, many teachers have been experiencing psychological trauma at the hands of Nyiramahoro who was running the registry until recently when she was asked to temporarily vacate the office by the Chief Administrative Officer.
In July of this year, Nyiramahoro was given a transfer to manage the teachers’ resource Centre in Kisoro Municipality.
https://vomuhabura.com/registry-scandal-tip-of-corruption-iceberg-in-kisoro/
“We commend the district leadership for trying to discipline the senior records assistant Madam Molly. She has been inflicting unnecessary trauma to the teachers in this district who go to visit the registry. We thank you for removing her from that office, Matata said.
Matata said if the said officer is ever returned back to the registry, teachers will abandon their duty and will not return to schools.
Voice of Muhabura has not been able to independently verify the accusations against Nyiramahoro Molly nor the outcome of the district investigations into her alleged corruption.
Key among the issues raised yesterday included the salary disparities between science and arts teachers.
Back in July 2023, Government announced that science teachers with degrees would start earning 4 million shillings, diploma holders 3 million shillings while their counterparts teaching arts subjects would remain on 900,000 Ugandan shillings.
The message of salary disparity was further re-echoed yesterday at the national stage when the teaching body met with President Yoweri Museveni at Kololo ceremonial grounds where they also demanded for funds towards the arts teachers.
Muhabura Diocesan Education Coordinator Rev Herbert Mujabwami said delivery in the classroom has also been affected by alcoholism among some teachers as well as domestic violence in homes.
He noted that more sensitization among teachers and parents needs to be carried out to help them cope with the everyday stress of life.
The state minister for Youth and Children Affairs who doubles as Kisoro district Women Member of Parliament Hon Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke also observed a worrying trend among teachers, many of whom are dying as a result of stress related factors.
Nationwide data suggests that 495 teachers died in 2018, 549 in 2019, 680 in 2020, 490 in 2021, 432 in 2022 and 307 as of September 30th, 2023.
Six teachers from Kisoro have died as of September 30th, 2023.
Sarah Mateke said the rate at which teachers are dying is alarming and needs to be recognized as a threat to education in the country.
She noted that stress caused by unpaid loans, alcoholism and domestic violence at household level are the lead causes of such untimely deaths.
Minister Mateke said Government is aware of the need to increase salaries for arts teachers. She called for patience and commitment to the noble profession until something materializes from Government.
Kisoro LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana said no amount of words can convince Government to increase the teachers’ salaries unless President Yoweri Museveni agrees to the development.
According to Bizimana, the institutionalized undermining of teachers is palpable and until the President wakes up and finds it necessary to pay teachers better, will it happen in Uganda.
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