Bishops of the Church of Uganda have warned the central government against what they describe as growing interference in the management of schools founded by the Church.
The bishops say the arrest and detention of head teachers over the collection of money from students for meals is unacceptable and undermines the authority of school administrators.
The concerns were raised during a meeting of the bishops held at Namirembe Guest House and chaired by the Bishop of Mukono Diocese, Rt. Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo.
The bishops acknowledged the government’s contribution to the education sector, including support towards the construction of schools, teacher training and provision of learning materials.
However, they said such support should not be used as a basis for the government to take over decisions that fall within the mandate of school management committees, parents and the Church.
In a statement delivered on behalf of the bishops, Rt. Rev. Gaster Nsereko, the Bishop of West Buganda Diocese and Secretary of the House of Bishops for dioceses in the Buganda region, said the arrest and detention of head teachers was humiliating and should stop.
The bishops argued that detaining school heads in the presence of students, teachers and parents damages their reputation and weakens their ability to manage schools effectively.
They particularly questioned the government’s position on schools charging students for lunch, saying provision of meals is an important part of ensuring that learners remain healthy, attentive and able to study effectively.
According to the bishops, arrangements requiring parents or students to contribute towards lunch are often agreed upon by school management committees and parents and should not automatically be treated as unlawful practices.
They therefore called on the government to respect decisions reached by management structures of Church-founded schools and to engage school administrators through dialogue instead of arrests.
The bishops warned that continued government intervention could force the Church to reconsider its relationship with the state in the management of its schools.
They said the Church could ultimately move to take full control of the management of its schools in the Buganda region if government agencies continue to interfere with decisions made by Church-founded institutions.
The bishops maintained that while the Church appreciates government support to education, its role should complement rather than undermine the authority of institutions founded and managed by the Church.
The disagreement comes amid heightened government scrutiny of charges imposed on learners in schools, particularly fees or contributions for meals, as authorities seek to ensure that parents are not subjected to unlawful or excessive charges.
The bishops, however, insist that the issue should be handled through consultation with school management committees and parents rather than through the arrest and detention of head teachers.
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