Oyam, Uganda | Police in Oyam District have detained the Deputy Head Teacher of Agobadong Primary School, Michael Okwir, after he allegedly sent more than 150 learners home for failing to pay school-related charges.
The incident was uncovered on Monday during a monitoring exercise conducted by the Oyam Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), Francis Behangana, together with the District Internal Security Officer (DISO).
The officials reportedly found groups of pupils walking home during school hours. A follow-up visit to the school established that learners were being required to pay UGX 6,500 each, comprising UGX 3,500 for PTA contributions and UGX 3,000 for mid-term examinations.
The monitoring team also found only eight teachers present by 9:45 a.m. They further questioned the school’s financial accountability after a teller machine was reportedly retrieved from the head teacher’s residence but was not in use.
Behangana condemned the practice of sending learners away over school charges, saying it undermined the government’s commitment to providing free education through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. He emphasized that UPE was introduced to ensure every child has access to education without being denied the right to learn because of financial constraints.
Iceme Sub-county LC III Chairperson Robert Opio Awelo also condemned the deputy head teacher’s actions, saying the practice deprived learners of valuable instructional time. He noted that missing even a single day of school could cost a pupil up to eight lessons, which could have a negative impact on academic performance.
Agobadong Primary School, a government-aided institution with an enrolment of 1,161 pupils, is reportedly experiencing declining learner attendance, with local leaders attributing part of the trend to the continued practice of sending children home over school charges.
During the inspection, Okwir reportedly admitted that sending the learners home was wrong and pleaded for forgiveness. However, he was taken into police custody as investigations into the matter continue.
