Lawmakers Urge Caretaker Head Teachers in UGIFT Schools to Compete for Positions Amid Job Advertisement Concerns

Lawmakers have advised caretaker head teachers at seed senior secondary schools under the Uganda Intergovernmental Transfer (UGIFT) program to consider competing with others following the job advertisements.

Head teachers and deputy head teachers of 76 seed schools under the second phase of UGIFT submitted a petition to Parliament, requesting affirmative action from the Education Service Commission.

They presented their petition to Speaker Anita Among on November 25, 2024, who then referred it to the Committee on Education and Sports.

While meeting with the petitioners on January 27, 2025, committee members urged the teachers to adhere to the established public service recruitment guidelines, noting that the current head teachers and their deputies were appointed informally.

Hon. Martin Muzaale (NRM, Buzaaya County) stated that while the head teachers and their deputies were initially given informal caretaker roles, they now require formal appointments since the government has assumed control. “The essence of this petition is to secure these positions, but what if we do so and you lack the necessary qualifications? The government has standards that must be followed,” Muzaale explained. Hoima East Division MP, Hon. Patrick Isingoma, remarked that granting the petitioners affirmative action would alter the government’s recruitment policy.

Abim District Woman MP, Hon. Janet Okori-Moe, challenged the head teachers to justify why they deserve affirmative action. “Explain why you believe you are more qualified than other Ugandans with equal qualifications, and propose a fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process,” Okori-Moe added.

Hon. Atkins Katusabe (FDC, Bukonjo County West), however, urged his colleagues to find a compromise to avoid the potential loss of jobs for the current head teachers. “They’ve been teaching, so why suddenly oppose these teachers? They have faith in Parliament, which is the only institution with the constitutional mandate for representation,” Katusabe said.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, questioned why the teachers were concerned, particularly if they were qualified for the positions. “Lead petitioner, please help us understand—did you find certain qualifications in the advertisement that would disqualify you? If there are unfair aspects, let us know,” he said.

Lead petitioner Stanley Ochom, the Head Teacher of Loroo Seed Secondary School in Amudat District, explained that the head teachers are not eligible based on the advertisement’s requirements.

Ochom instead suggested that recruitment of sitting teachers be carried out on-site at the school level, as has been done since 2017. “If left unchecked, it would be unjust to these teachers who have endured great hardship, volunteering for over seven years in these schools,” Ochom stated.

He further added that the teachers are likely to abandon the schools due to a lack of trust and confidence in the Education Service Commission. “The continuity of assessments for these learners will be disrupted, as there will be no teachers responsible for submitting ongoing assessment results to the Uganda National Examinations Board,” Ochom said.

The Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) argued that the advertisement is discriminatory, as it only considers government teachers on the payroll, excluding the current teachers who are not on the payroll.

ULGA Vice President for Central Region, Ibrahim Kitata, emphasized that sitting head teachers and their deputies with the necessary experience and qualifications, regardless of their payroll status, should be allowed to apply for the positions. “This proposal would eliminate any discriminatory sentiments and accusations from qualified and experienced Ugandans,” Kitata noted.

The seed secondary schools in question were initiated by local communities, and various teachers were selected to provide leadership and guidance to ensure the schools’ operation.

According to the petitioners, the schools signed memorandums of understanding with district local government authorities, which included provisions for internal recruitment opportunities for the sitting staff once the schools were taken over by the government.