A section of head teachers and school committees in Kabale Municipality have raised concerns about the increasing number of teachers reporting to work under the influence of alcohol.
This issue was discussed during the joint celebrations for Kabale district’s Main Branch and Kabale Municipality on National Teacher’s Day, held at Kirigime Guest House in the southern division of Kabale Municipality. World Teachers Day, observed annually on October 5th, focused on the theme: “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.”
Henry Mayanja, the head teacher of Upper Bugongi Primary School and the Vice Chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) in Kabale Municipality, revealed that five of his teachers have a habit of drinking, with one of them recently attempting to assault him before leaving school to return to the bar. Mayanja urgently called upon authorities to implement protective measures for educators.
According to Geoffrey Beinomugisha, the Chairperson of UNATU in Kabale Municipality, the prevalence of alcoholism among teachers currently stands at 15 percent. Beinomugisha highlighted that measures have been taken to apprehend teachers found inebriated, with four teachers at risk of arrest if they persist in consuming alcohol.
He noted that two teachers were arrested in 2018, and three more were apprehended in 2019 due to their struggles with alcoholism. Beinomugisha attributed this alarming situation to the stress teachers face due to the challenges inherent in their profession.
Amos Musiimenta, the Head Teacher of Kakomo Secondary School and the UNATU Chairperson for Kabale Main, strongly condemned the prevalence of alcoholism among teachers. He emphasized that this habit contributes to a decline in the quality of teaching in classrooms.
