A heated clash erupted at Tarbuk Secondary School in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division after the Minister for Local Government, Balam Barugahara, suspended the Masaka City Education Officer over alleged management irregularities at the government-aided school.
Barugahara, accompanied by the state minister for Local Government, Justine Nameere, conducted an impromptu inspection at the school on Monday, where they cited several concerns, including discrepancies in student enrolment, alleged financial mismanagement, teacher absenteeism, poor sanitation, and unlawful charges collected from students.
The confrontation began when the minister demanded that Masaka City Education Officer Steven Kakeeto and City Inspector of Schools Moses Kawuma explain the inconsistencies in the school’s records. He accused the officials of conniving with Headteacher Nuhu Mpagi to inflate student enrolment figures in order to defraud the government through increased capitation grants.
According to the minister, records from the Ministry of Education indicate that Tarbuk Secondary School has 439 students, yet only 316 learners were found during the inspection. He further claimed that although 28 teachers are on the government payroll, only seven reported for duty on the day of the visit. Barugahara also questioned the school’s decision to charge each student UGX 140,000 in fees despite receiving shillings 26 million per term in government capitation grants, accusing the education officials of failing to supervise the institution.
However, Kakeeto interrupted the minister, insisting that the allegations were based on unverified information. Speaking in a raised voice, he explained that the fees were approved by the parents’ meeting and seconded by the school’s Board of Governors to provide lunch for students, arguing that the City Education Department should not be blamed for decisions made by the school management.
Despite ordering suspension and police investigations into the alleged irregularities, Kakeeto maintained that his office was not responsible, noting that Tarbuk Secondary School was only recently transferred from Masaka District to Masaka City. He added that the City Council had already notified the Ministry of Education about the structural challenges at the school and was still awaiting intervention.
Meanwhile, Barugahara ordered the arrest of History teacher Allan Katongole and school gatekeeper Tony Kisakye after students accused them of harassment and administering corporal punishment. The minister also directed the interdiction of Genza Nasser, the school’s Director of Students, accusing him of chronic absenteeism and denying students access to examinations over unpaid fees.
Students told the minister that candidates are required to pay UGX 30,000 before sitting examinations and that those who fail to pay are barred from both classes and examinations.
Meanwhile, at Mirembe Primary in Kibisi cell, Kaddugala ward, Josephine Nakidde, the Headteacher appealed to the Ministers to push for an increase on the budgetary allocation for the school’s facilitation grants (SFG). She said they are currently operating on very thin budgets, hence making the school operate without basic facilities such as latrines and adequate instructional materials-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
