Balaam Gets Backing from Education Ministry to Hunt Down Corruption in Schools

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports has warned headteachers of Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools against imposing compulsory charges on learners or sending them home over unpaid fees, saying public-school funding rules must be respected and that schools should not deny access to education. The warning was delivered in Lira City at the close of the Association of Secondary School Headteachers of Uganda’s three-day annual general meeting, which gathered more than 1,000 headteachers and deputy headteachers from 13 sub-regions.

Representing Acting Education Minister John Chrysestom Muyingo, Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Emmy Egole said the ministry backs Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi’s drive against corruption and poor service delivery, while stressing that any investigations must follow due process and respect human rights. He said the Education Act prohibits charging fees for education in USE schools, though voluntary contributions for genuine emergencies may be allowed. He also said government would not protect headteachers found guilty of misconduct or abuse of office.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda separately urged school leaders to make full use of teachers already on the government payroll before seeking extra staff through parent contributions. She said teachers are expected to handle a minimum number of weekly lessons and that weak supervision can create avoidable costs for families. The ministry also pointed to salary improvements for arts teachers, while ASSHU leaders called for faster implementation of remaining pay enhancements and fair treatment in corruption probes. The meeting ended with a focus on school leadership, accountability and education quality.