Angry parents in Bulambuli district have attacked a teacher at Mabugo Government-Aided School, accusing him of neglecting their children during the ongoing nationwide teachers’ strike.The incident happened on Friday, September 19, when a group of parents stormed the home of Milton Gibutui, a Primary Seven teacher at the school. Gibutui, a resident of Mayuba village, is among the teachers taking part in the strike organised by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
The strike began on Monday, September 15, after government failed to implement a promised salary increase. As a result, teaching has been suspended across the country, leaving pupils unattended, including those preparing for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) scheduled in less than a month.
Parents told reporters that their frustration pushed them to act. One parent explained that since Monday, children had been staying home or going to school without learning anything. He said the candidates were especially affected, and parents feared this would hurt their performance in the national exams.
The parents argued that while teachers had genuine concerns about pay, it was unfair for children to suffer the consequences of a dispute between teachers and the government.
Efforts to get a comment from Stephen Edema, the Bulambuli Chief Administrative Officer, were unsuccessful, as his phones were switched off by press time.
The strike in Bulambuli is part of a larger nationwide protest by teachers demanding better pay and improved working conditions. In many schools, lessons have stalled, leaving parents worried and learners anxious as exam season approaches.
