Mukono District Boss Threatens Demotion for Underperforming Head Teachers

Mukono District Chairperson Francis Lukoome Mukoome has issued a stern warning to head teachers of public primary schools within the district. He stated that any school failing to secure at least one first-grade candidate in the forthcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) will see its head teacher demoted to the role of a classroom teacher.

Mr. Mukoome announced this directive on Monday while addressing parents and Primary Seven pupils at Kawuku Boarding Primary School. He emphasized that the era of public officials holding positions without demonstrating tangible results is over, and he plans to hold leaders accountable for their schools’ academic performance.

“I will evaluate all of you after the Uganda National Examinations Board releases results early next year. If your school fails to produce a single first grade, you have no business being a head teacher,” Mr. Mukoome declared. He recalled a similar initiative from his first tenure as district chairperson about a decade ago, where high-performing teachers were promoted to headship roles, and underperforming head teachers were demoted based on examination outcomes.

Mukoome lamented Mukono’s decline from its past position as one of Uganda’s top three performing districts, attributing this to complacency among some leaders and public servants.

He lauded Kawuku Boarding Primary School for its consistent academic achievements, noting its impressive performance despite its rural location, and its ability to rival urban private schools. The school’s head teacher, Fredrick Kabonge, who was promoted from a classroom teacher over a decade ago, shared that enrollment has surged from 300 pupils in 2020 to 840. However, this growth has strained the school’s infrastructure, leading to shortages of desks and the absence of a library and a main hall. In response, Mukoome pledged to fund the construction of a multipurpose hall in the next financial year and donated 200 hoes, promising computers for the pupils.

Additionally, Mukoome warned head teachers against levying illegal fees, informing them that he and security agencies are actively cracking down on those extorting money from parents, citing a recent case where a head teacher was arrested for collecting PLE registration fees despite the government covering them under the UPE program.

The Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) are scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 4, 2026.

Source: https://www.monitor.ug/uganda/news/national/mukono-district-boss-threatens-to-demote-head-teachers-over-ple-results-5638488