On the Matanga hill in Masaka city is seated a 10-acre world class Hill View primary school Matanga with international standards and educational services despite teaching a local curriculum.

The school which is yet to celebrate its one year anniversary has been an academic hub in Greater Masaka and the country at large due to its balanced curriculum which offers all-round well balanced education to children from different backgrounds.

Our in depth research has proven that in just a space of a few months, the school proprietor has invested over 2 billion Shillings in the school in terms of educational services and infrastructure.

Who is behind this mega project?

Our investigations have revealed that 30-year-old Ssentongo Fredrick Lugonvu alias Mwana wa Taata, a Buganda based journalist, life coach and business man who mainly deals in hardware stores, all the way from Busubi Village Lwengo District is the proprietor of Hill View Primary school Matanga.

Our team contacted the proprietor Ssentongo Fredrick Lugonvu, a humble and down to earth soft speaking gentleman and throughout our eight minutes conversation with him, he remained lip tight on whether he owns the multibillion school.

However this was not shocking due to his nature of being a reserved person whose strength and weak points are hard to determine.

We made an impromptu visit to the school and the first impression at the gate gives you a clear picture of how an international school must be. With unmatched conducive environment and well set up infrastructures, the school is seated on Matanga hills with a cool breeze from Lake Birinzi.

After introducing ourselves we were directed to the office of the public relations officer of the school who took us through what makes the school stand out among other schools in the area and the country at large.

A humble and jolly but equally principled PRO Nambaziira Mariam told us that the school is systematically run starting from the School management committee, head teacher and his deputies, heads of departments, Heads of section, non-teaching staff and the pupils’ leaders.

She told us that the question of ownersip doesn’t arise since he is not involved in the day to day running of the school.

She however revealed that at the grand opening of the school on 30^th November 2023, the owner will be made known to the public.

What makes Hill View Primary school Matanga unique?

Pupils are only required to clear school fees and their personal necessities because other requirements like; school uniform, mattresses, basins, jerry cans among others are provided for by the school.

We noticed that Hill View Primary School Matanga provides a balanced nutritious diet to the pupils. It also offers co-curricular activities especially; games, sports, aerobics, music, dance and drama with each item having its independent facility.

As we toured the school, we found a new three stored flat building being erected.

What is its capacity?

According to Nambaziira, more structures are to be set up and once completed, the school will accommodate about 3000 boarding ambassadors as they are referred to in their school language.

To have a virtual view of this impressive paradise, you can visit; website at www.hillviewmatanga.com

St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) is among the “ivy-league” schools in Uganda, with many prominent old boys.

According to a 2018 published report, St. Mary’s College Kisubi is the most prestigious school in Uganda, owing to its excellent academic performance and all-round nurturing of its students.   However, this stands to go up in smoke, following a mutiny that is brewing at the 117-year-old institution.

An exclusive dossier seen by this website reveals that a rebellion looming among staff members who are living in a cloud of misery.

The staff members and support staff have petitioned the Ministry of Education and Sports against the mal-administration perpetuated by the school headmaster, Bro. Simeon Mpanga. This, after similar attempts to get redress from the Inspector General of Government (IGG) hit a dead end.

In the missive to the Permanent Secretary (PS), the staff members detail that among many other problems, there are glaring discrepancies in workers’ salaries.

“The previous college administration and the PTA Treasurer, Mr. Ronald Kasozi, who also doubled as Treasurer to the BOG, made inquiries into the workers’ salaries where upon he harmonised all payments to ensure equity and fairness,” they say.

They further explain, “The new administration, under Brother Simon Simeon Mpanga, enhanced salaries of arts teachers on government payroll, as well as all teachers on BOG contract to bridge the gap at least by 50%, which was really a good and empathetic gesture. However, some teachers were intentionally left out of this increment, which is unfair. Therefore, we suggest that there should be a payroll audit to harmonise and ensure fair pay for all and the arrears be paid to the affected employees,”

The aggrieved parties also reveal that there is divide and rule of the staff.  They claim Bro. Simon Simeon Mpanga has deliberately divided the staff for his selfish interests.

“At first, he divided the staff basing on tribal grounds but when he realised that this would bring him trouble in the near future, he started doing it indirectly by dividing the staff basing on the period an individual teacher and other employees have served at the college.”

In addition to the above, they say Bro. Simeon Mpanga is is fond of humiliating and embarrassing some staff members during weekly Friday staff briefings.  During these meetings, he always threatens and intimidates these victimised teachers with transfers.

To those who are paid by the BOG, he is always threatening to cut down on their number and replace them with teachers on government payroll yet he has at the same time brought on board many teachers and support staff not on government payroll. This is traumatizing and severely damages the self-esteem of the employees on top of killing the morale and self-drive every worker should have.

It is revealed that some teachers do not attend Friday staff briefings for fear of being humiliated and embarrassed.  There are fears that this may eventually impact negatively on the general performance of the school.

“It would be okay if he privately summoned us (teachers) to discuss where we could have gone wrong.  It is sad that he relies on spies and rumours before humiliating us during the meetings,” they claim.

They say that in relation to the above, some workers have been falsely accused and framed for offences they know nothing about.

A case in point is a class teacher whom Bro. Simon Simeon Mpanga unjustly accuses of extorting money from parents to conduct online lessons yet it is actually the parents themselves who demanded for the service and even formed a committee to manage the finances and the programme.

He also accuses teachers of using the parents-teachers WhatsApp groups to campaign for and rally support behind some parents into the PTA Executive positions.

They say this is not true as parents overwhelmingly voted Counsel Michael Musisi-Chairman PTA, Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo-Vice Chairman PTA, Mr. Ronald Kasozi-Treasurer, Mrs Alice Guloba-Vice treasurer, Dr. Achan Okiria Patricia-member, Col. Joseph Fred Onata- member and Eng. Tugume Ayebare-member because of the trust and confidence they have in them as far as serving the interest of the College is concerned.

It is also revealed that Bro. Mpanga also accuses teachers of not closing the WhatsApp groups as he instructed which is not true.

“Honestly teachers closed the groups on his instructions even without clear reasons for the closure of these communication channels. However, because of the many events that have been taking place at school, some parents who are also administrators of these WhatsApp groups often reopen them to keep the fellow parents who are unable to attend, abreast with what is transpiring at school.

It should be noted that this directive of WhatsApp closure by Bro. Simon Simeon Mpanga is against the fundamental human right of freedom of expression and association as clearly stipulated in the National Constitution of the Republic of Uganda chapter four, article 29 section (1), sub section (a) and (e).

They claim that some of Bro Mpanga’s accusations bode on the macabre. “It is sad to mention that some accusations are as cheap as blaming some employees for practising witchcraft and this is enough to cost someone their hard-earned job,” He himself is known as a witchcraft practitioner hence the suspicion that like him, others too do practice it.

They relay their shock at a recent discovery that the teachers’ representatives on the Board of Governors were not democratically elected by the staff but appointed by the Head Teacher for his selfish interests.

“This was total violation of the guidelines of electing members of the BOG by the different constituencies as clearly stipulated in the Education Act 2008, Act 13 section 58, 59. We recommend that the Board of Governors be recalled and the different constituencies be given the right to democratically choose representatives of their own choice,”

Bro Mpanga Sidelines Deputy for office messenger

Worth noting also is that the current Head Teacher is always at cross purposes with the subjects he is supposed to be carrying out administrative work with.

It is surprising to note that rather than delegate his deputy in charge of administration, Mr. Justus Katatumba and other administrators, he instead assigns responsibilities to an office messenger a one Kasozi and his cohorts.

No wonder, weekly administrative assessment meetings which were regular in the previous regime for purposes College progress are no longer held.

Members are simply informed of the final verdict of the Headteacher during the weekly Friday briefings whether it is viable or not to the surprise of other administrators. This affects both staff and students since all this is not reflected on the term planner.

“It is so saddening to note that Bro. Simeon Simon Mpanga falsely accuses his deputy Headteacher in charge of administration, Mr. Justus Katatumba and a section of staff members, of fighting his administration. It is obvious that he is using this as a tool to justify eliminating this whole group. In truth, this is absolutely false. It has been discovered that he is playing this dirty game with the Chairman BOG by feeding him with false information tarnishing a section of staff and planning together how to get rid of these innocent people without giving them a listening ear,” they claim.

They say that everyone’s surprise, on Tuesday 13th June, 2023 during the swearing-in ceremony of the democratically elected prefects, Bro. Simeon Mpanga announced that he had created new prefectorial posts which have not been there before.

He even suggested some names, especially of the losers of high posts. This did not go well with the entire students’ community and staff who believe in fairness and democracy.

Students believe that these appointed prefects should have been subjected to the normal procedure of applying, vetting, campaigning, being voted for and being sworn in before being given instruments of power.

Students are sceptical that the sole purpose for these prefects is to spy for the head teacher and enforce his selfish interests among the

students.

Many a time, students have been heard complaining about these prefects as they have been seen mistreating fellow students, especially those who did not vote them.

In the first place, their roles are not stipulated nor streamlined.

In relation to the above, this clarifies a case in the previous year’s prefectorial elections

when he planted a candidate at the last minute, on the post of Head Prefect to contest against the preferred and most popular candidate.

They claim that he shamelessly went ahead to campaign for his candidate among the S. 1 and 2 classes which had the largest numbers that were young and easy to convince. To date, he still witch-hunts this innocent boy he plotted against.

They write that ppreviously, the AGM and visitation had been planned (on the term planner) to take place on the same day Saturday 8th July, 2023. However, this was changed abruptly whereby the two events were separated, shifting AGM to the following Sunday 16th July, 2023. On a Sunday, few parents are expected to turn up as they would have on a Saturday.

“Furthermore, parents were informed through their children that no parent would be allowed to see or interact with their children to discourage them further. This, we came to learn later that the two events combined would attract so many parents who would interfere with his selfish interests of influencing his own choices to the PTA executive. This went according to plan as indeed the number of parents that turned up was quite less,” they write.

They claim that those and many more instances point to Bro Mpanga’s maladministration and unfortunately, the unsuspecting public knows nothing about it.

“We are grateful to Rev. Fr. Ronald Bwanika-the College Chaplain for his endeavours to keep the staff and administration solid, we are forever indebted to him.  It should be noted clearly that this aggrieved group is not against Bro. Simon Simeon Mpanga-The Ag Head Teacher as a person neither do they wish him anything bad but we are fighting for the protection of all employees’ rights, freedoms and fairness,” they concluded.

By Grapevine Reporters

Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire of the Court of Appeal has warned lawyers to tame their greed for money if they want to be successful in their legal professional.

Justice Kiryabwire explained that lawyers should use their training to deliver justice and fairness in society.

He advised them to first offer their services before they are paid.

He narrated that in the early years of the profession, lawyers did not ask for money, they only offered services and people came running after them throwing money in their gowns, which is no longer a practice nowadays.

He warned that the new practice of lawyers demanding for a lot of money and involving themselves in fraud is going to destroy their profession if they are not very careful.

Justice Kiryabwire gave an example of a young lawyer who had just recently started his career in the profession.

After setting up his law firm, he was approached by a client who wanted to save his relative from being remanded to prison.

The client pleaded with this lawyer to hurriedly secure for him a court bail but because he did not have money, the lawyer told him he cant help him.

After a lot of haggling, the lawyer told the desperate client to give him his expensive phone as security.

This young lawyer told the client that he will give him back his phone once he brings the money.

The client accepted and the bail was secured.

Justice Kiryabwire narrated that on the next day, the client brought the money to the lawyer so that he retrieves his phone.

Surprisingly, the phone was nowhere to be seen even in the place where the lawyer had kept it. The lawyer searched his whole office including the drawers and cupboards but the phone was missing.

Upon realizing that the phone was irretrievable, he pleaded with the client to allow him get him a new phone.

Shockingly the phone was more expensive than the money he worked for.

The client was very bitter and declined to take the lawyer’s offer to buy for him a new phone insisting that he had a lot of vital information on the lost phone and he wanted it.

Upon realizing that his phone could not be traced, the client dragged the lawyer to Uganda law council and upon investigation he was dismissed from the practice on ground misbehaving.

The judge warned that if the lawyer had first delivered service before asking for money, he wouldn’t have faced the tough times he went through.

Justice Kiryabwire gave the example of himself that when he decided to take on the role of a judge, even though he was a good commercial lawyer leading a serious insurance company as its Executive Officer, he always considered offering the service first before money.

He rubbished the talk that for someone to be successful, he should be with a lot of money.

He schooled those with such thinking that a person’s success should be measured on the positive impact he brings to their community.

Justice Kiryabwire gave the advice at the graduation party of Public Service Commission boss Emmanuel Olaunah who was celebrating his post graduate diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC) where he passed with flying colours.

Olaunah testified that passing LDC was not an easy thing especially at his old age given his many responsibilities.

The party was attended by Agness Winnie Kabogoza chairperson of the Public Service Commission, fellow Commissioners, Members of Parliament and members of the legal fraternity.

WHO IS OLAUNAH

Olaunah was born in 1960 to Rev. Can. Fenekasi Owurum and Zeresi Owurum both deceased. He comes from a family of 9.

He had primary education in Kalalu Primary School now in Pallisa and Kabwangasi Demonstration School now in Butebe.  Went to Buludi College,Kachonga for ordinary level.

He later trained as a Grade III Primary Teacher in Bishop Willis College in Iganga.  Began teaching profession in Nabuyonga Primary School in Mbale Municipal Council now a City.

He sat for his ‘A’ Level as a private candidate and passed to join Institute of Teacher Education now Kyambogo University.

He briefly taught in Tororo Girls School and later joined Makerere University and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science.

Olaunah  joined Mainstream service as Hospital Administrator and rose to the rank of Undersecretary retiring in 2020.  He is a family man of one wife and 4 children.  In 2022, the President identified and appointed him as Member Public Service Commission (PSC).

OLAUNAH’S EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Between 2021-2023 he graduated with a post graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Center Kampala, Uganda. In 2020 he attained a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) at Islamic University in Uganda.

In 2017 he attained a Master in Management Studies at Uganda Management Institute. In 2014, he attained Master of Business Administration ESAMI.

In 2009 he got a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration at Uganda Management Institute.

In 2005 he got a Master of Arts in Social Sector Planning and Management Makerere University, and a Diploma in French in 2008.

In 2005 he got a Certificate in Administrative Law at the Law Development Center in Kampala.

In 2005 he attained a Certificate in Management Improvement at the Uganda Management Institute. In 1999 he got a Diploma in Health Services Management from the Institute of Public Health.

In 1991, he attained a Bachelor of Arts from Makerere University. In 1988 he got a Diploma in Education from the Institute of Teachers’ Education Kyambogo.

In 1985 he attained an Advanced Level of Education from Mbale Hall.

In 1982, he got a Grade II Teacher’s Certificate in Education.

In 1979 Certificate in Ordinary Level of Education Bukedi College Kachonga

WORKING EXPERIENCE

2021 – Todate, he is a Member Public Service Commission

2020: Retired as Undersecretary, Education Service Commission.

Between 2013 – 2015: Was Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development as Under Secretary.

Between 2011-2013: Was at the judicial Service Commission as Under Secretary.

Between 2009-2001: Was at Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry as Under Secretary

Between 2006-2006: Was at Ministry of Water and Environment as Principal Assistant Secretary.

Between 2000-2005: Was at Mbale Hospital as Hospital Administrator.

Between 1996-2000: Worked at Soroti Hospital as Hospital Administrator.

Between 1995-1996: Worked at Uganda College of Commerce – Soroti as Lecturer.

Between 1988-1995: Was a Secondary School Teacher at Tororo Girls, Nabuyonga Primary School – Mbale as Primary School Teacher

By Sengooba Alirabaki