RUKIGA – Teachers in Rukiga district were pleasantly surprised yesterday as a diverse group of individuals, including both the elderly and the young, men and women affiliated with the Dr. Sylvia Arineitwe Foundation, showered them with praise during the World Teachers Day celebrations.
The event in Rukiga district, orchestrated by the leaders of the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) Rukiga, took place at the Nyeikunama prayer ground in Muhanga Town Council. The day featured a range of activities, such as the gifting of presents to teachers and a friendly football match between Legends and Teachers.
Madam Moreen Kyarisima, who headed the delegation from the Dr. Sylvia Arineitwe Foundation, presented gifts to the teachers. She emphasized the foundation’s respect for educators, noting that their patron, Dr. Sylvia Arineitwe, was nurtured by teachers. Moreen highlighted the crucial role teachers play, asserting that almost every influential person globally has been shaped by the hands of a teacher.
In addition to expressing appreciation, Moreen encouraged teachers to participate in the ongoing coffee planting campaign in the district, suggesting it as an additional source of income for their families.
Hon. Akampurira Oscar, the Rukiga district Speaker and Workers’ representative in the district council, stressed the importance of acknowledging teachers. As a teacher himself, he urged participants to reflect on the teachers who played a pivotal role in shaping their lives, emphasizing that now is the time to show gratitude.
Oscar also mentioned the collaborative efforts of district stakeholders in enhancing education, citing significant achievements in National Examination results. Rukiga district excelled in the 2022 Primary Leaving Examinations, becoming the best in all of Kigezi.
Mr. Moses Tumuhimbise, the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) chairperson for Rukiga district, commended teachers for their resilience despite facing challenges such as salary disparities, teacher shortages, and excessive workloads. He urged the government to prioritize the training of special needs teachers, highlighting the need to address the gap in understanding and supporting learners with disabilities.
The World Teachers Day celebrations, marked annually on October 5th, carried the theme for this year: “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.”
