From Chalk to Hoe, Former Mityana Teacher Finds Hope in Farming

What the report says

Lawrence Kabanda, a former Biology and Agriculture teacher in private secondary schools in Mityana District, has left the classroom for farming after saying his salary was no longer enough to support his needs. According to Nile Post, he quit teaching in 2024 after six years in the profession and moved into crop farming and livestock rearing.

Kabanda is now based at Off Grid Farms in Kakungube, Kassanda District, where he says agriculture has become his main source of income. He told the publisher that farming now earns him more than teaching did, though he has not closed the door on returning to education if an opportunity arises. His farming work builds on the subject knowledge he once taught, and he has expanded from crops into keeping livestock.

The article says financial strain played a major role in his decision. Kabanda described periods of borrowing to cover expenses and said the pressure worsened during the COVID-19 disruptions. He argues that better pay for teachers matters, but says salaries also need to match the responsibilities educators carry.

The story also cites Mityana education official Rev. Kenneth Kabanda, who said teacher departures have been a challenge and noted government efforts to improve welfare. Kabanda’s experience reflects a wider issue in Uganda’s private education sector, where some teachers seek other income sources when wages are insufficient.