The State house Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with Police in Rukungiri and Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions have arraigned Herbert Musasizi, the Head Teacher, Kebisoni Integrated Primary School and Seven members of PTA Executive Committee before the Magistrates Court in Rukungiri District.
The accused are charged with levying charges on UPE pupils and sending away defaulters from the school. Their arrest followed an outcry from parents over the charges and the sending away of their children, yet UPE is free for all.
The court presided over by Grade One Magistrate His Worship Mbalangu Gonzaga heard that Musasizi Herbert, the head teacher Kebisoni Integrated Primary School in Kebisoni town council Rukungiri district together with PTA Executive members are accused of levying a certain amount of money and sending away defaulters contrary to C/S 9(1) and 4 of the education pre-primary, Primary and Post-Primary Act 2008 CAP 247.
Musasizi and fellows committed the offence together with Twesigye Paddy, the chairperson PTA, Edith Ankunda, Jolly Tumwesigye, Fred Kayabuki, Kobusingye Eve, Baryaija Obed and Beatrice Muhirwe all executive members.
It’s alleged that Musasizi the school head teacher between January 2022 and July 2024 at Kebisoni Integrated Primary School levied a charge for the purpose of education against the parents and guardians of pupils of the said school.
Between May 2023 and August 2023 at Kebisoni Integrated Primary School, the head teacher sent away one pupil whose name was withheld for two days over failure to pay levied charges.
Also between February 2024 and May 2024, the head teacher sent away another pupil over failure to pay levied charges.
Musasizi Herbert and his PTA executive members between January 2022 and July 2024 at Kebisoni Integrated Primary School conspired together to levy against the parents and guardians of pupils of the school but they all denied charges slapped to them. However, all the eight suspects were on Monday granted bail of Ugx5 million non cash bail and Ugx 7M non cash bail to each of their sureties.
His Worship Mbalangu Gonzaga noted that they will reappear in court on 30th July 2024 emphasizing that the sureties were charged with ensuring that all the suspects appear in court on the scheduled dates starting at 2PM and failure to do so would result in their arrest.
The President of the Republic of Uganda Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has oftenly warned government aided heads to desist from sending away students for school due because the education is paid for by the government.
