At least 3000 learners of Kitende Secondary School in Wakiso district are at risk after school administrators and staff are embroiled in bitter fights and accusations.
Staff at the government school along Entebbe Road have accused their headteacher Stephen Lwasa of nepotism, abuse of office and high hardness which can result into ruining the school properties and learning environment as well as learners’ lives.
A source at the school accused Lwasa of employing his relatives and girlfriends in influential positions as school administrators.
Among them is Catherine Namaganda who is his daughter and is currently working as a school bursar but also manages an ice cream machine at the school.
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This was after Lwasa sent away other competitors on unhygienic grounds.
“One of his relatives called Gerald Asiimwe, a son to Lwasa’s aunties is in charge of school admission of new students. Another one Luyimbazi who is his cousin is in charge of the school store,” a source said.
Staff at the school who declined to be named further revealed that Lwasa employed a one Ruth Nabakooza who they alleged is his girlfriend his personal secretary.
Nabakooza according to sources has been also assigned the role of being in charge of teacher’s welfare even though some claim that she lacks the required management skills.
A number of staff at the school have appealed to education authorities to handle the matter with urgency and prevail over the situation to save the learners and government properties.
When contacted, flamboyant Lwasa declined to comment over the allegations on phone insisting that he only speaks to journalists face to face.
In face-to-face interview, he admitted that Namaganda is his daughter who came to school for her internship and assured stakeholders that she will leave upon completion of her internship.
“On the issue of ice cream, it’s true I bought it and being the headteacher, I couldn’t manage it, so I gave it to her to manage,” Lwasa said.
He denied being in any love relationship with Nabakooza, explaining that they are both are from the Cow (Ente) clan, and it will be an abomination for them both to fall in love.
He also admitted that he recruited her from Nsangi Secondary School where he was also headteacher.
Lwasa explained that he left Nsangi Secondary School on the request from the Anglican church leadership when the school got burnt over unending fights.
Lwasa denied allegations of colluding and interfering with the contractor of the school buildings to steal building materials.
He was responding to accusations that he steals the said material and takes them to St Catherine primary school, his school in Nsangi Town Council, Wakiso district.
Lwasa is also accused of causing the transfer of his former deputy Lule over school deals after he made allegations accusing him of defiling a student.
“It’s true, I’m overwhelmed with fights. That’s why I decided to put the welfare docket in the hands of Nabakooza whose office is directly under me. I’m going to source an outside caterer to feed the teachers so that we cure the issue of stealing plates and other utensils,” Lwasa said.
He added, “These fights are the cause of my ill-health, I have pressure and diabetes now, I’m considering two things, either to apply for early retirement or ask for a transfer to another school.”
He boasted that he is a headworker. He disclosed that he found about 1400 students at the said school but the intake rose to more than 3000 students.
He also attributed the fights to competition especially from neighbouring schools whom he accused of working for his downfall.
