Tensions are running high at the government-owned St. Peters Claver Namiryango Mixed Primary School after parents staged a protest against the sudden transfer of the school’s deputy headteacher, Herbert Nelson Kisira.
The parents, many of whom gathered at the school premises, expressed deep dissatisfaction with municipal education authorities over the decision. They erected posters voicing their grievances and demanded the immediate return of Kisira, who has been moved to New Hope for Africa Primary School. He has been replaced by Teddy Nabukenya.
According to the protesting parents, Kisira’s five-year tenure transformed the once struggling institution.
Prior to his arrival, the school’s reputation was severely tarnished, with academic performance having deteriorated badly. Standards had reportedly dropped from around 70% to as low as 40% in some cases while discipline was at an all-time low. Pupils were said to be roaming the village instead of attending classes.
Under Kisira’s leadership, however,the school witnessed remarkable improvements, particularly in First Grade performance, as he took personal responsibility for driving change and preparing the institution for future challenges.
One parent, speaking on behalf of the group, painted a vivid picture of the turnaround: “This school was truly in a bad state. Children were not studying properly; they were just roaming around the village. We were constantly asked to pay a lot of money, but we saw no results. However, ever since Kisira came, he changed many things. He managed to get proper uniforms for our children, our children now get porridge every day, and they eat a balanced lunch meal.”
The parents also praised Kisira’s compassionate approach to pupil welfare. “When a child falls sick, Kisira would handle it well and send them home properly,” they noted. In contrast, they leveled serious accusations against the new deputy head teacher, Teddy Nabukenya. “Unlike this woman they have brought to us. First of all, she disrespects us parents a lot and does not give us any respect at all. She also chases children away from school.”
Safety concerns further fueled the anger. Parents claimed that during nighttime power outages, pupils are left unsupervised and some reportedly wander out of the school gate, posing serious risks to their well-being.
The situation escalated dramatically when George Walusimbi, a teacher in charge of sports at the school, allegedly confronted the protesting parents. According to eyewitnesses, Walusimbi assaulted some parents verbally and warned them that their protest would bring problems upon their own children. The confrontation nearly turned violent with parents reportedly ready to exchange blows before cooler heads prevailed.
Undeterred, the parents have vowed to sustain their protest until they receive a satisfactory explanation and the reversal of Kisira’s transfer. “We will not stop demanding the return of the deputy headteacher,” they declared.
In an attempt to de-escalate the tension, William Mufumba, the Director of Studies at the school, addressed the gathering parents. He urged them to remain calm, assuring them that their concerns would be promptly forwarded to the relevant authorities for quick resolution.
Meanwhile, Francis Byabagambi, the Town Clerk of the municipality, defended the transfer as standard procedure. “Transferring staff is a normal procedure,” he explained, “and we consider a person’s capability before posting them to a position of responsibility such as headteacher of a school.” Byabagambi acknowledged receiving reports of the positive changes Kisira had introduced but appealed to parents to welcome the new headteacher and give her a chance to lead.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Teddy Nabukenya were unsuccessful, as her phone went unanswered.
The protest highlights deeper frustrations among parents regarding administrative decisions in the education sector and the perceived disconnect between local authorities and community stakeholders. As the standoff continues, education officials are expected to intervene to prevent further disruption to the school calendar and ensure stability for the pupils.
Parents and guardians have called for greater transparency in future staffing decisions, emphasizing that leadership continuity is critical for sustaining academic gains in public primary schools.
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