By Sophan Niwamanya.
pearlnews.com
A bitter row has erupted between the parents and headteacher at Kitooma primary school in Rubaya sub-county, Kabale district, over the alleged mismanagement of funds by the head teacher.
The misunderstandings came to the limelight during the Parents-Teachers Association general meeting held at the school premises on Thursday.
Sources at the school indicate that the meeting was aimed at ironing out the differences between the head teacher and parents.
The disagreements between the head teacher Samson Muhoozi and parents began in 2017 when parents wrote to the then Kabale district education officer, Kenneth Sabiti Baabo, but their efforts were futile.
This prompted anger among the parents who staged a protest last month and attempted to lock the head teacher’s office over his failure to explain why the school is in such a sorry state yet a total of 12 million shillings had been raised at fundraising held for the school a few years ago.
The parents accuse the head teacher of failing to give the accountability of the school and question why there are continued disputes between the head teacher and parents.
Micheal Begumisa and Peter Tumwesigye’s parents say that they wanted the head teacher to be transferred since he failed to resolve issues affecting the school so that the school would get a new head teacher to sort out all differences.
They said that they have the right to employ their own children to teach in their schools. “We want our daughters and sons to teach our children.”
They added that the school has been affected by non-functioning committees both of the parent-teacher association and school management, a failure to acknowledge each one’s responsibility and accountability, among other issues.
Byaruhanga wonders why a section of parents sold school trees worth 2.5 million shillings and misused the funds without the school head teacher and other parents’ consent.
Muhoozi is also accused of failing to account for five million shillings disbursed to the school under the multisectoral food and nutrition project.
The school’s PTA chairperson, Eric Nebyensi, told parents to reconcile with the headteacher so that the school could shine again after asking to look for money that was lost from fundraising and money from trees that they had been selling.
Samson Muhoozi, the school headteacher, accused parents of failing to consider him as the school headteacher, which has hindered the school’s development and performance.
He says he has been fought by parents and parents denied him the right to become a signatory on the school’s account, which has become a major challenge. He, therefore, asks concerned communities to embrace the opportunities and responsibilities given that will enhance the performance and development of the school.
Nelson Atukwase, the chairman of Rubaya sub-county, called for urgent intervention from parents, local leaders, and the government to run for the school that worries everyone. Atukwase said that the school buildings are in a sorry state and are worried that learners perform poorly.
He adds that the school had mega fundraising in 2019 which attracted the then prime minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, Minister David Bahati, and others, but the funds yielded nothing towards the construction of the school.
Bwengye Moses accused the parents of continuously taking laws into their hands while taking resolutions, inciting that it’s the government that distributes government workers but not them to choose and transfer.
He asked them to stay calm, reconcile, and work with the headteacher to avoid differences that are not helpful.
Kitooma primary school has been affected by non-functioning committees both of the parent-teacher association and school management, a failure to acknowledge each one’s responsibility and accountability, among other issues.
