Head teacher suspended over poor performance

Authorities in Mitooma District have suspended the head teacher of Mahungye Secondary School, Mr Elly Oyesigye, over misuse of funds and the institution’s poor academic performance.

Mr Oyesigye has been suspended following protests by the parents and local leaders.

The day and boarding school is located in Bitereko Sub-county and has O-Level and A-Level sections.
A stakeholders’ meeting convened by the security officials and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on February 5, resolved that Mr Oyesigye leaves the school.

The meeting came after a section of parents stormed the school and blocked him from entering.
The meeting also decided that the school’s books of accounts be audited before he hands over, and the substantive deputy head teacher David Byensi will be in charge of the school until further notice.

Mr Oyesigye is accused of running the school on debts that have accumulated to about Shs100m yet students pay fees.

Most of the suppliers have reportedly not been paid for a year. The school’s performance in 2018 UCE examinations did not please the stakeholders. Three students passed in Division One; 19 in Division Two; 18 in Division Three and 46 in Division Four.

“Parents say that Mr Oyesigye is arrogant, he beats some of them; beats teachers and chases them. We had 11 teachers on payroll but some have been chased. We now don’t have full-time teachers of English and Geography,” Mr Byensi said on Saturday.

The fracas that came at the opening of First Term forced many students to stay away.
It has enrolled more than 4,000 students. Mr Byansi said by Saturday 3,000 had reported. The school fees range from Shs 280,000 to Shs 300,000 per term.

The situation
The district leaders are convincing parents to bring their children back to the school. The District Police Commander, Mr David Epedu, said on Saturday that policemen who had been deployed to keep law and order have been withdrawn following return of normalcy.

Asked about what transpired and how the school is managed on Saturday, the DEO, Ms Peace Gloria Barungi, said everything is under control.

The councillor for Bitereko Sub-county, Mr Charles Barigye, said the headmaster should have been transferred long time ago, and that would have saved the image of the school.
Mr Oyesigye declined to comment of the matter on Saturday. When contacted on phone he said he was attending a party.