By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE CITY
A clash is brewing between foundation bodies and Mbale City Council over a head teachers transfer program.
The controversy surrounds two schools: Nabuyonga Primary School and Mbale Police Barracks Wanyera Primary School.
Despite Mbale City’s education department transferring head teachers to all government primary schools last month of January, these two schools have refused to comply.
At Nabuyonga Primary School, head teacher Grace Irene Kabuni was transferred to Nauyo Primary School, but the Church of Uganda Mbale Diocese through Wilson Nandaa, the Bishop of Mbale diocese wrote to Mbale city last week rejecting the transfer, citing Kabuni’s exceptional leadership and the school’s transformation under her guidance.
In the letter , Bishop Nandaa said ” Nabuyonga primary school is one of the government aided schools under foundation of Mbale diocese but it’s not a fully government school, meaning that any transfers must be first agreed with the Church before taking place which the city never did.”
While speaking to our reporter on phone on Monday, 17th February, 2025, Eridad Wanzala, the Mbale youth diocese Secretary said that the church is not fighting or clashing with Mbale city as people are saying but according to the education Act, Church founded schools have to be consulted when government is transferring head teachers which Mbale city never did.
He says that the church is ready to be first consulted by city authorities before allowing the new head teacher to take over office and leave the former for Nauyo primary school.
Muhammad Musufwa and Sarah Khatayi some of the parents of Nabuyonga primary school pin James Kustosi, the Mbale city public relations of having interest in the Nabuyonga primary school head teacher transfer since Kabuni is his biological sister although Kutosi denied when contacted.
They claim that Nabuyonga has a big population which attracts lots of UPE grant and PTA money pupils pay compared to Nauyo primary school which tempted Kutosi to fight for his sister to retain the position.
They say although the Mbale diocese has rejected the transfer, Kutosi has also influenced the stay of transfer at Nabuyonga.
Similarly, at Mbale Police Barracks Wanyera Primary School, head teacher Betty Nabukobero was transferred to Nakaloke Primary School, but parents and school management, led by Mbale DPC Kenneth Bakashaba, refused to accept the transfer, praising Nabukobero’s leadership and the school’s progress.
Last week, parents of Mbale Police Barracks Wanyera Primary School staged a full demonstration at the school after Mbale city insisted that Nabugobero should go to Nakaloke primary school where she has been transferred to.
James Kutosi, Mbale City’s spokesperson, confirmed that head teacher transfers have been implemented in all schools except these two.
He acknowledged that the city failed to consult the foundation bodies of these schools, such as Mbale Police for Wanyera Primary School and Mbale Diocese for Nabuyonga.
Kutosi says to resolve the conflict, Mbale City and the foundation bodies are planning to meet and harmonize their differences to facilitate the transfers as originally planned.
The head teacher of Nauyo and of Nakaloke are still at their original schools waiting for their two counterparts to be transferred before occupying their positions, according to Kutosi.
