Muslim leaders, Nambiro clash over fees at Nkoma SS

By Issa Kigongo

Muslim leaders in Bugisu have accused Jimmy Nambiro, President Museveni’s Private Secretary in charge of Education and Skilling, of repeatedly targeting Nkoma Secondary School in Mbale City over the collection of school fees, warning that the interventions could disrupt lessons and affect students’ performance.

The leaders say they support the government’s policy of free Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE). However, they argue that government funding is insufficient to meet schools’ operational costs, including the facilitation of teachers who are not on the government payroll.

Speaking at a press conference at his office at Plot 6 Mosque on Republic Street on Friday, Bugisu District Kadhi Sheikh Ahmad Masaba Pole questioned why Nkoma SS appeared to be the main focus of Nambiro’s enforcement efforts when other government-aided schools also operate in Mbale.

“Every day, I hear that police have gone to Nkoma SS. There are many government schools here in Mbale, including Mbale SS and others. Why is he putting all his energy into Nkoma?” Sheikh Masaba asked.

He warned that the repeated interventions could affect teaching and students’ results, particularly if teachers felt intimidated or demoralised.

“If our children do not perform well this year, we shall attribute it to Nambiro because his continuous interference and intimidation of teachers have affected teaching,” he said.

Masaba also criticised Nambiro for allegedly embarrassing the school’s head teacher in front of students over a decision to send some pupils home to remind their parents about school fees.

“I was annoyed when Nambiro embarrassed our head teacher in front of students for sending children home to remind their parents about school fees. That was wrong,” he said.

The Kadhi said Nkoma SS has a large student population but an inadequate number of government-paid teachers, leaving parents to contribute towards additional staff and other school requirements.

“When the President said parents should not pay school fees, he did not say they should not buy other requirements. The money available is not even enough to provide lunch for the children,” he said.

He added that Nkoma SS and other Muslim-founded schools under the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), including Lwakhakha, Bufumbo, Bukonde, Hamidan Girls and Nakaloke, have Boards of Governors and Parent-Teacher Associations responsible for their administration.

Masaba said concerns about the schools should first be discussed with the Muslim leaders responsible for them rather than handled through interventions that could interrupt learning.

“If he identifies anything wrong at the school, he should first sit with the Muslim leaders responsible for the institution instead of using his position in government to disrupt learning,” he said.

Bugisu Muslim District Council chairman Sheikh Ali Waboga also questioned Nambiro’s focus on Nkoma SS, arguing that the school was not a skilling institution despite Nambiro’s responsibilities at the State House Education Desk.

Waboga said the interventions had demoralised teachers and risked undermining learning during the third term.

NAMBIRO DEFENDS ENFORCEMENT

However, Nambiro defended the government’s position in an interview with Bugisu Intellectual, saying government-aided schools must comply with President Museveni’s directive on free education.

“The President introduced universal education for the poor. Extra fees lock vulnerable children out of school. Let those with money look for schools that charge fees, such as Mbale SS and Nabumali High School, but leave USE schools for poor children,” Nambiro said.

He also challenged the district Kadhi to address the matter through the appropriate channels, rejecting the suggestion that his actions were motivated by hostility towards Muslims.

“Let the District Kadhi address these issues instead of them thinking that am fighting the religion,” he said.