By KT Reporter
Kabale District education authorities have raised concerns over challenges in handling primary school head teachers and teachers who are transferred but later rejected by foundation bodies and parents over alleged indiscipline. The issue follows a decline in performance in the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). District education records indicate that out of 3,467 candidates who sat for the 2025 PLE, only 219 obtained Division One, 1,838 obtained Division Two, 773 Division Three, 373 Division Four, 206 Division U, and 58 Division X.
This represents a decline compared to the 2024 PLE results, where out of 3,225 registered candidates, 257 obtained Division One, 1,946 Division Two, 700 Division Three, 174 Division Four, 109 Division U, and 51 Division X. The figures show a drop in Division One candidates and an increase in both Division U and Division X in 2025.
Records further indicate that Rubumba, Musamba, and Kentare government primary schools did not register any candidates in Division One or Division Two. At Rubumba Primary School, 13 out of 16 candidates scored Division U, while at Katojo Primary School, 13 of the 26 candidates also scored Division U.At Kentare Primary School, 12 out of 14 candidates scored Division U. At Katuna Primary School, nine out of 36 candidates obtained Division U, while Kigata Primary School registered eight Division U candidates out of 41. Kakondo Primary School recorded eight Division U candidates out of 15, while at Kyeibare Primary School, seven out of 15 candidates scored Division U.
At Kentare Primary School in Kaharo Sub-county, out of 14 candidates, only one obtained Division Four, 12 scored Division U, and one scored Division X. At Rubumba Primary School in Kahungye Sub-county, out of 21 registered candidates, none obtained Division One or Two. One candidate scored Division Three, two scored Division Four, and 18 scored Division U.
At Musamba Primary School in Rubaya Sub-county, none of the 15 candidates obtained Division One or Two. Five scored Division Three, six Division Four, and four Division U. All government primary schools in Kibuga Sub-county registered no Division One candidates. Rubaya Sub-county registered three Division One candidates, Ryakarimira Town Council registered two, Butanda Sub-county registered four, and Kahungye Sub-county registered nine.
Kabale District Education Officer Moses Bwengye Tumwijukye says the decline in performance prompted district authorities to transfer some head teachers and teachers. However, Bwengye says he was shocked when foundation body overseers and parents rejected some of the transferred teachers, citing indiscipline.
According to Bwengye, complaints from foundation bodies and parents include high levels of alcoholism and absenteeism among teachers and head teachers.
He says he is uncertain about where to deploy the rejected teachers. Bwengye admits that cases of teachers being accused of alcoholism are overwhelming. He also says some head teachers are themselves accused of drunkenness, making it difficult for them to report teachers involved in similar misconduct.
Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagyizi, the Kabale District Speaker, says she has witnessed cases where two head teachers were rejected by parents and foundation body overseers over poor performance linked to indiscipline. Kanagyizi questions why such head teachers are simply transferred instead of being demoted.
Drake Mutahakana, the Education Secretary for the Diocese of Kigezi, says the diocese also analysed the decline in performance and attributes it partly to teachers’ indiscipline. According to Mutahakana, apart from alcoholism, the teachers’ industrial action during the PLE examination period disrupted completion of the syllabus and denied learners adequate guidance before the exams.
Mutahakana adds that the diocese has registered many cases of habitual absenteeism among teachers and head teachers, which has negatively affected effective teaching in schools. He says such cases have been reported to district education authorities so that disciplinary action can be taken against what he described as “liabilities” in the education system.
He also noted that when cases of indiscipline are discussed, the usual response from authorities is to transfer the teachers involved, which he says only shifts the problem from one school to another.
Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer Robert Mugabe admits that it was unfortunate that only 219 learners obtained Division One out of the 3,467 candidates who sat for the 2025 PLE in the district. Mugabe says that in an effort to address poor performance, 15 head teachers have already been demoted. He adds that in schools where no Division One or Two candidates were registered, head teachers and teachers will be summoned before the district Rewards and Sanctions Committee to explain the poor results.
He also says district authorities are discussing plans to start rewarding teachers and head teachers from schools that perform well as a way of motivating others to improve.
Mugabe admits that cases of indiscipline, including alcoholism among teachers and head teachers, are widespread but says authorities are committed to restoring discipline and improving academic performance in the district.
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