The Assistant Secretary in Charge of Bussi Sub County, Richard Mabira, says Bishop Kawuma Primary School has over 300 pupils. He however, says all the teachers and head teacher posted to the school are no show.
Bussi Island residents in Wakiso district are struggling to access education and health services due to staffing problems. Uganda Radio Network has established that Bishop Kawuma Primary School, one of the two public schools on island has only three teachers.
The Assistant Secretary in Charge of Bussi Sub County, Richard Mabira, says Bishop Kawuma Primary School has over 300 pupils. He however, says all the teachers and head teacher posted to the school are no show.
“The entire school is under three teachers. You know that they cannot handle all classes and this means that the pupils are not studying,” Mabira said.
He reveals that he reported the matter to his supervisors at the district two weeks into the first term and they promised to handle the matter.
Mabira notes that when several civil servants are posted to Wakiso, they are excited only to make a U-turn when they reach Bussi.
//Cue in: “Some teachers who…
Cue out…to some people.”//
Mabira says that they have always told the district to consider bonafide Bussi residents while posting workers but this hasn’t been implemented as all islanders recommended for jobs are turned down.
//Cue in: “The remedy is…
Cue out… be very much.”//
William Mutashaba, the Officer in Charge of Staffing in the District Education department notes that they have identified the challenge and are currently looking for a solution. “Matters of Bussi are complicated. I may not say much but at least the department is doing something,” he said.
Immaculate Nakaliika, a resident of the island notes that the situation isn’t strange to them as several civil servants posted to work there fail to show up given the fact that the area, which is secluded and visibly detached from the rest of Wakiso district is characterised by poor physical infrastructure and lack of proper transport means.
Stanley Kabuye, the Bussi Sub-county LC 3 chairperson also reveals that the in charge of Bussi Health Centre III has been away for the last six months. He says to make matters worse; the officer went with the keys to the drug store.
//Cue in: “In charge waffe…
Cue out…tebitambula bulungi.”//
Kabuye is particularly angry at the district authorities for taking long to handle their complaints. He says that he has been writing to the district authorities including the District Health Officers and Chief Administrative Officer but his letters go without reply.
URN has since learnt that Wakiso District Service Commission acting on orders of the district chairperson recently summoned the in-charge for questioning over his conduct and abscondment from duty. The officer was advised to reopen the drug store immediately.
Last year, Wakiso district Authorities announced affirmative action for Bussi Island with intentions of providing a lot of resources to improve service and livelihood on the island. One of the key infrastructures planned is a road connecting Bussi Island to the mainland.
The district council had also proposed to introduce of hard to reach allowance to civil servants on the island as one of the means to motivate them. However, this is yet to be realised due to the absence of a budget.
Story by Christopher Kisekka
