The disabled music teacher beating odds

Charles Mugonero, 36, was born a normal child in Namutumba District but became physically impaired a month after he took his first steps as a child. Years later, disability has not stood in the way of the primary school teacher who is using music to scale to heights.

Mugoneros interest in music started in 1994 when as a Primary Seven pupil at Namutumba Primary School he was part of the choir that enabled his school to perform at the district level competitions.

He currently teaches Mathematics and Music at Parental Care Boarding Nursery and Primary School in Bushenyi Town.

But his childhood was not an easy one. Having been born and raised in a humble family, he dropped out of school in Senior Three due to lack of school fees. But luck shone on him when he got a bursary in 2002.

“A good Samaritan gave me a bursary at Seguku Hill College after seeing my dire need for education and because I was a bright student,” Mugonero recollects.

In 2004 during his Senior Six at Seguku Hill College in Wakiso District, he was part of the group that led the school to the national level school music, dance and drama competitions where his school won the national trophy.

Mugonero joined a teacher training college after his Senior Six and in 2006 when he completed, he trained Faith Trust Primary School music group and helped them ascend to the national level competitions.
He has since trained different primary and secondary schools which have all performed well in music competitions.

The schools include Bweranyangi Girls SS, Bushenyi, Kyeizooba Girls, SS Bushenyi, Seguku Hill College, Jinja SSS, and King of Kings SS, in Iganga, among others.
“Through training these schools, I have earned some good money and also become popular through referrals,” he says.

Getting lucky
Mugonero’s best moment was in 2013 when he trained Kapchorwa Modern Primary School and he was awarded Shs1 million as prize money by the school administrators when the school made it to the national competitions.

Aside from training music in schools, Mugonero is a traditional and foreign music instrumentalist who sometimes sings though he has not performed at any shows yet.

Whenever he is invited to teach music, Mugonero is paid about Shs800,000 per item. The items include instrumental composition, sight singing, and traditional folk singing, among others.

Where he meets language barrier challenges, he gets an interpreter whom he gives the song’s story line as he (Mugonero) gives the beat.

“I am not bothered by the disability because I can do what other people can. Music goes with rhythm and I enjoy it whenever I am training and although I cannot dance, I shake and feel how good it is,” he says.
Mugonero has plans of starting a music, dance and drama school because music is part of his life and he also wants a place where he can mentor the young generation.

Advice
To parents. Mugonero advises them to let their children explore and exploit their talents.
To pupils. Mugonero says music refreshes the minds and it is always a better option to engage in constructive music practice after a long day of studying.