By Masejele Sulaiman
Mbale City, June 4, 2026 .
The Headteacher of Nkoma Secondary School, Hajji Kawanguzi Abubakr, has expressed concern over the acute shortage of government-employed science and mathematics teachers at the school, warning that the situation is affecting the quality of education and could negatively impact students’ academic performance.
Speaking during the school’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Saturday, June 4, 2026, Hajji Kawanguzi told parents, teachers, education stakeholders, and invited guests that the government-aided Muslim-founded school currently has no government-employed Physics teacher. He further revealed that only two Mathematics teachers are on the government payroll, forcing the school to rely on additional teachers whose salaries are paid by parents through PTA contributions.
He noted that despite several appeals to the Ministry of Education and Sports, the school has not yet received a response regarding the deployment of additional teachers.
We have written to the ministry several times requesting a government Physics teacher and more Mathematics teachers, but we have not received any response. Parents have had to shoulder the burden of paying additional teachers to ensure our learners continue studying, Hajji Kawanguzi said.
The headteacher warned that the continued shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in science subjects, threatens the school’s academic standards, especially at a time when the government is promoting science education and innovation.
In addition to the staffing challenge, Hajji Kawanguzi raised concerns over an old classroom block that has already been condemned due to its poor structural condition. He said the building poses a serious safety risk to both learners and staff.
We have reported this matter to different government offices, but unfortunately no action has been taken. We fear that if nothing is done, the building could collapse and endanger lives, he said.
Despite these challenges, Hajji Kawanguzi shared encouraging news that Nkoma Secondary School has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the government’s U-Learn Programme.
Through the initiative, the school is expected to receive new classroom blocks and other infrastructure aimed at improving the learning environment.
Parents welcomed the development but urged the government to ensure that infrastructure expansion is matched with adequate staffing to improve the quality of education.
Representing the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Guest of Honour, the Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education Mr. Moses Musingo, acknowledged the concerns raised by the school administration and assured stakeholders that the ministry would act on the matter.
He advised the headteacher to immediately resubmit a formal request addressed to the responsible authorities regarding the shortage of Physics and Mathematics teachers.
We do not want our children to miss learning because of the lack of teachers. Rewrite to the ministry immediately, and we shall follow up the matter with the responsible office, the Assistant Commissioner said.
He further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving education standards across the country through adequate staffing and infrastructure development.
Parents attending the AGM called upon the Ministry of Education and Sports to urgently deploy qualified science teachers and address the deteriorating school infrastructure to ensure learners study in a safe and conducive environment.
Nkoma Secondary School is a government-aided Muslim community school located in Mbale City. Like many government schools across Uganda, it continues to face challenges related to staffing and infrastructure despite increasing student enrolment of over 7000 students.
