The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) has criticised minister of State for Local Government Balaam Barugahara over what it describes as the irregular arrest and public humiliation of headteachers and education officials during his inspections of government schools.
UNATU general secretary Filbert Baguma said the union supports the government’s efforts to fight corruption but insisted that enforcement should follow established investigative and administrative procedures rather than turn into a public spectacle.
Baguma said some officials were being accused of wrongdoing before investigations were completed, potentially damaging their dignity and professional standing.
“Public officers are being branded thieves and publicly humiliated in front of their own learners and communities long before any legal inquiry or conviction takes place,” he said.
He questioned what happens to headteachers and other officials who are publicly accused but later cleared.
Barugahara has been visiting schools in several districts, checking pupil enrolment figures, illegal fees and the management of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) funds.
Some of the inspections have resulted in arrests and investigations after school records allegedly failed to match physical headcounts.
Tororo district chairperson John Okea said some of the cases require a better understanding of the administrative procedures followed by district education offices.
He cited a recent case in which Barugahara ordered the arrest of education officials over alleged inflation of pupil numbers to obtain additional capitation grants.
Okea said the district had already verified enrolment, informed the ministry of Education and Sports about the excess learners and reallocated the surplus funds to other education needs as required.
“While there are corrupt officers in the district, the minister rushed on this specific issue,” Okea said. “His aggressive approach makes it impossible for anyone to explain administrative procedures.”
The dispute also extends to parental contributions in government schools. Baguma said schools have relied on parents to meet some operational costs that government funding does not fully cover, including additional staff and other basic needs.
He said the minister’s position against unauthorised charges had left some headteachers uncertain about how to meet such costs without risking arrest or disciplinary action.
Baguma called for a broader review of the education sector, saying the challenges should be addressed through policy and administrative measures rather than politicised.
“In the end, the child is going to be affected,” he said.
Government maintains that UPE and USE schools must not impose fees on learners and has stepped up inspections to identify schools collecting unauthorised charges or mismanaging public funds.