Baguma Bates Filbert the General Secretary Uganda National Teachers Union is ardent about fighting for Arts teachers’ raise. He has consistently told the teachers not to return back to school until their demands are met but is Baguma really fighting for teachers or has his own concealed agenda?
Baguma owns a chain of private schools across the country, which have been struggling with operational costs and poor turn up of Pupils. For example Phimose Nursery day and Primary school, he also has shares in British school Kampala and Muyenga British School these two schools have been closed temporarily due to poor turn up and debts.
Schools were greatly affected by Covid-19 Pandemic and majority parents opted for Government schools this Academic year due to high school fees in private schools.
He portrays himself as the “Jesus” of teachers in the entire country yet the teachers in his private schools are also complaining of the same poor pay. This brings us to the real question; what really is his agenda?
Some Arts teachers are not happy with UNATU under the leadership of Baguma, not making head way in the negotiations to make a good deal with Government.
A fraction of Arts Teachers are breaking away under the leadership of Musasizi, having discovered that Baguma is two faced and has had a hidden agenda all along.
The fraction of teachers which according to Musasizi are 50% of the arts teachers intends to negotiate with Government as their counter parts did (the science) teachers. This faction accuses Baguma of inciting them against the science teachers instead of negotiating for them.
Teacher Odongo Richort a close associate of Baguma who runs one of his private school said that, “he feels sorry for teachers who believe and trust Baguma because his real intentions are far from fighting for teachers.” So by keeping teachers out of schools it works in his favour and his associates not the Arts teachers.
The well laid out plan of Baguma is to have parents thrown into a state of panic given the fact that learners were out of school for two whole years and keeping them again out of school will greatly affect their future. With this fact at hand, parents will be left with no solution than to return learners to private owned schools again hence making Baguma’s plan a success.
It is also believed that he has done several back door deals with Government to help calm down the anger of the teachers as government finds solution. However this time his demands were too huge to bear as he stormed out of the negotiation room and he was heard ranting “Okay, You will see what I am capable of!”
Comments
Post a Comment