Poor pay forces Kisoro teachers to seek Early retirement, leaders worried

By Dickens Twinomujuni

The number of teachers seeking early retirement has stirred worry among authorities in Kisoro district.

Teachers, mostly from Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools are increasingly seeking to leave the profession, blaming it on poor remuneration.

This year, sources say at least 30 teachers have applied for early retirement. The Kisoro District Education Officer (DEO) Emmanuel Mwumvaneza, turned down our request for information.

Alex Matata, the Chairperson Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) Kisoro main branch, told www.vomuhabura.com that the numbers are expected to shoot up this year.

“We have been asking the government to enhance teachers’ salaries in vain, yet the cost of living keeps going high. This is going to worsen because the government may even fail to clear their retirement benefits at once,” says Matata.

If nothing is done to address the situation, schools may be abandoned by teachers, Matata warns.

According to Matata, the trend is not any different in other districts in the region, with Kabale and Isingiro districts having 50 and 60 applications respectively.

He regrets that teachers have been yearning for salary increment in vain, thus seeking greener pastures.

Leaders worry

Hakizimana Martin, the Secretary for Social Services in the Kisoro district council, also the LC5 Councilor for Muramba Sub County, says it’s a countrywide problem, not only limited to Kisoro.

He says some teachers are troubled by multiple loans, and seek to receive a retirement package to close the gaps.

To secondary school science teachers, Hakizimana reasons that the enhanced salaries have excited them and some wish to join the business world.

“This rush for early retirement is due to poor pay. They get soaked into multiple borrowing to meet the cost of living, but later realise that their salary can no longer service the loans. Their last option is to seek the early retirement package,” He explained.

Kisoro LC5 Chairperson, Abel Bizimana says the plight of teachers tones down the significance of education.

“If you are an educated man and you can’t return home with something, people will keep comparing you to your neighbour who is farming and is able to meet his families’ needs. How then will you speak well of education before people?” Bizimana exclaimed.

He calls upon the government to invest in human capital, adding that he would agitate for the same, once he reaches parliament. Bizimana has announced plans to contest for the Bufumbira East Parliamentary seat.

“Our government’s policy to care for its civil servants is the poorest. The heaviest investment should be in human capital. Why should MPs earn hefty monies, yet teachers training children of this country continue receiving meager pay?”

Bizimana however says that teaching is a calling, urging teachers to embrace service, despite the hardships they go through.

The exodus of teachers casts a dark shadow on the successes of UPE, which is already grappling with insufficient teachers.

As of 2024, official records say a total of 136,819 teachers were teaching 8,624,264 learners in 12,433 UPE schools.

The estimated total pay for a UPE teacher is 790,000 per month, with a take home of 499,000 after deductions. Teachers in hard-to-reach areas receive an additional 30% allowance per month.