ISINGIRO
Education authorities in Isingiro district are under pressure to investigate allegations that a teacher attached to Katerera Primary School has been earning a government salary for 16 years despite reportedly never reporting for duty.
The teacher, identified as Byamukama Dennis, is accused of using a proxy teacher, also reportedly named Denis, to perform his duties while the two allegedly shared the salary paid by government.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that Byamukama worked with successive headteachers at the school, who were allegedly given commissions to shield the arrangement from scrutiny.
According to the allegations, Byamukama has continued receiving his salary through a Centenary Bank account while operating several private businesses in Mbaare town, Isingiro including a mobile money outlet, an electronics shop and a disco sound business known as Master Disco Sounds.
The alleged scheme reportedly came to light following a disagreement within the school’s administration. Sources claim the dispute resulted in the suspension of the proxy teacher, prompting renewed scrutiny of the arrangement.
It is further alleged that efforts are underway to transfer Byamukama to another school. Sources privy to the matter claim the transfer was facilitated through the District Education Office and involved bribery.
The allegations also implicate Isingiro District Education Officer, Godfrey Nkuba, who is accused of receiving a bribe to facilitate the transfer. The claims could not be independently verified by press time.
Sources further alleged that officials justified the transfer by claiming that Byamukama’s wife was receiving treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital, a claim critics say was intended to conceal the circumstances surrounding the transfer.
However, when contacted, Byamukama dismissed the accusations as false.
“Not true, I have been working like for three years,” he said, adding that he has hasn’t taught only for this current term following his wife’s sickness.
“I have been present and teaching at the school, maybe this term, I am attending to my children because the mother is sick and on admission at a hospital in Kampala,” he said.
Byamukama also rejected claims that he had abandoned his teaching duties, and used a ghost teacher while continuing to receive a government salary.
“That’s not true. I don’t know anything you are talking about,” he said.
The school’s headteacher, Justicia Ayebare, said she was unable to comment because she was attending a meeting at the parish. The deputy headteacher, Gertrude, also declined to comment, saying she was occupied in another office at the time this publication contacted her.
Repeated efforts to obtain comments from the DEO, Godfrey Nkuba were unsuccessful as his known telephone number couldn’t go through by press time.
The allegations, still under investigations could expose weaknesses in teacher supervision and payroll management within the district’s education sector.
