By Chris Mugasha
The UPDF’s spokesperson Brig. Gen Felix Kulayigye has advised teachers to use their ‘heads’ and think about income generating ideas which can supplement their salaries. Kulayigye said relying only on a salary cannot be enough.
Kulayigye said before recently when the army officers’ salaries were enhanced, they used their ‘heads’ to create wealth alongside their small salary.
“The most important thing is that if you put your mind on something, you will get it,” he said. “As you wait for government programs and policies, use your ‘heads’ to create wealth,” he stressed.
Kulayigye was on Friday presiding over the pass out of over 1000 students of Kyabugimbi secondary school in Bushenyi district who were trained in patriotism.
Caption: Bushenyi district woman MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha (red), the UPDF spokesperson Brig.Gen Felix Kulayigye, Bushenyi RDC Robert Atuhaire (yellow tie), Kyabugimbi SS Headteacher Alex Musinguzi and other officials at the pass out of Kyabugimbi SS patriots.
Earlier, the Kyabugimbi ss head teacher Alex Musinguzi who is also the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) Bushenyi branch chairperson informed Kulayigye how the issue of salary imbalances between science and arts teachers has caused issues in schools.
“You can imagine a situation where a science teacher holding a diploma is earning more than a head teacher who holds master’s degree,” Musinguzi said. “It’s something that is hurting many teachers and if you get to president, inform him,” Musinguzi said.
The Bushenyi district woman MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha said the problems of salary enhancement are not only in Bushenyi but across the entire country.
Katusiime warned if the issue of imbalances in salaries is not addressed it may cause issues.
Kulayigye implored students/youth to always shun activities that involve violence.
He warned the youth that during violence everyone loses. He told the students to always engage the authorities/administration to get their issues settled amicably.
Kulayigye asked the students to let the skills they were taught during the training be their guiding tool. Musinguzi commended government for extending such trainings to schools saying it helps in instilling morals and discipline.
Stakeholders lobby government
The Kyabugimbi ss also used the occasion to lobby government to support the school to have things like a laboratory, classrooms and a computer lab.
“We cannot love our country when our children don’t have where to study from. You talk of teaching sciences but our school doesn’t have a laboratory to teach sciences,” said Elisamu Mugizi the Kyabugimbi town council chairperson.
“As parents, we are ‘tired’ with construction. Look behind and see the parents’ sweat,” charged Nathan Bwirizayo the school’s PTA chairman.
The Bushenyi Resident District Commissioner Robert Atuhaire told parents that had it not been cases of corruption in the country such a school (Kyabugimbi) and others would be having a laboratory. End.
