The National Teachers Bill, 2024, recently tabled in Parliament, reeks of yet another authoritarian move by Museveni’s regime, hidden under the guise of “ethical standards.” On the surface, it may appear as a noble attempt to uplift the teaching profession, but a deeper look reveals a draconian plot to further entrench government control over educators, using punitive fines and jail terms as weapons of fear and compliance.
At its core, the Bill is a cleverly disguised attack on the already beleaguered teaching profession in Uganda. By imposing crippling fines of up to Shs14 million on institutions and individuals, the government is deliberately setting up teachers to fail. This is a regime that has consistently underfunded education, neglected teachers’ welfare, and created an environment where many educators are forced to operate under deplorable conditions. Now, in a twisted act of cruelty, it seeks to punish these same teachers with financial ruin or imprisonment.
The introduction of a practicing licence, valid for only four years, further tightens the noose around teachers’ necks. This certificate can be revoked at the whim of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), stripping teachers of their livelihood without due process. The so-called “competence test” is nothing but an arbitrary barrier, designed to weed out those who dare to question the regime’s heavy-handed tactics. And let’s not forget the outrageous requirement for non-Ugandan teachers to have their qualifications “equated” by the NCHE, a clear xenophobic tactic to limit foreign influence and promote insularity.
The Bill’s timing is also suspicious. Coming at a time when the regime is under increasing scrutiny for its oppressive policies, this legislation serves as a convenient distraction. It diverts public attention from the real issues plaguing the education sector—like the chronic underpayment of teachers and the unjust salary disparities between science and arts educators. Instead of addressing these critical concerns, the government is using this Bill to tighten its grip on an already suffocated profession.
This Bill is not about improving education or protecting students from unqualified teachers; it is about control. It is a calculated move to silence teachers, to crush dissent, and to ensure that every aspect of society bends to the will of Museveni’s regime. This is not legislation; it is tyranny in its purest form, masquerading as reform. Uganda deserves better, and its teachers deserve respect, not persecution.
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