Minister Kyofatogabye Warns Nakaseke Teachers Against Forgery
State Minister for Kampala, Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye, has issued a stern warning to teachers in Nakaseke District against forging academic documents to secure promotions.
Speaking at the National Teachers’ Day celebrations held at Kiwoko Secondary School, the Minister urged teachers to embrace the government's academic upgrading policy and obtain genuine qualifications to advance their careers.
The warning follows the suspension of 21 teachers in Nakaseke by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) after investigations revealed they had submitted forged documents in an attempt to gain promotions.
“Teachers who engage in fabricating papers to get promotions will be apprehended and will lose their jobs,” Kyofatogabye cautioned, emphasizing the importance of upgrading qualifications through diplomas and degrees, especially for Grade 3 teachers.
He stressed that resisting the new policy would leave teachers behind.
The Minister also responded to complaints about a directive from the district’s LC5 Chairperson, Ignatius Koomu, requiring teachers with failing students to make them sit mock exams.
He advised teachers to focus on improving student performance rather than resisting such measures.
Nakaseke District Education Officer, Steven Batanudde, highlighted challenges faced by teachers, particularly the lack of accommodation in hard-to-reach areas such as Kinoni, Kinyogoga, and Ngoma.
This shortage, he said, has led teachers to refuse postings, severely affecting educational performance in those areas.
Emmanuel Kiiza, Chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU) for Nakaseke, presented a report outlining both achievements and challenges in the district.
Among the successes were the construction of new schools and timely salary payments.
However, he raised concerns over financial strain from the multi-loan system, issues with the Luwero Teachers Sacco, and delayed allowances for teachers in remote areas.
Salary discrepancies between arts and science teachers were also addressed, with Nakaseke District Vice Chairperson, Richard Mavuuma, calling on the government to bridge the gap.
He proposed a loan scheme to assist Grade 3 teachers with upgrading their qualifications, noting that many are eager to advance but lack the financial means.
Several teachers voiced their concerns during the event, including Allen Akankunda, an English and Literature teacher at Kiwoko SS, who highlighted issues of understaffing and low salaries, which she said negatively affect performance.
The National Teachers' Day event, under the theme, “Valuing Teachers' Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” brought together educators from across Nakaseke, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the education sector and calling for government action to address them.