GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-INSTATE NAMUTAMBA PTC AMONG THE AIDED

GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-INSTATE NAMUTAMBA PTC AMONG THE AIDED

This is a kind appeal to the Government of Uganda on behalf of the people of Namutamba to re-instate Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) among those PTC’s it supports. Namutamba was affected by the decision which was made around 1999 when a number of PTC’s were dropped from government funding. The infrastructure at the College was then used for training teachers for Poly Technical Schools; which arrangement however failed shortly after and hence terminated.

John Kataza - Former Acting Principal Namutamba PTC

With the blessing of Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese, it was agreed to resume the teaching of Grade III Teachers under a self – sponsorship basis. This was after the teachers many of whom were serving at the Demonstration School decided to volunteer to see that the initiative takes off even without pay. It is then that 5 students were registered for the start! The numbers however have since increased, and the trend is that the College can regain its former glory. It is against this background that the administrators of the College and a number of residents of Namutamba would love the institution back to the former status. The fees paid by the students is a drop in the ocean given the desired funding that can have quality teachers put out and more so the numbers given the demand of quality teachers in Uganda and the regional market.

It true but sad to note that majority of the PTC’s that were phased out according to reliable information are Protestant based. This was unfairly done and this request is rightly based given an equitable formula in the phasing out process.

When we visited Namutamba on 7th and 8th March, we were given information concerning what is better termed a miracle which happened at the College. There was a visitor of Mityana diocese who paid a courtesy call on the College. The visitor was taken around and he was seen off with a few presents in form of crafts. Back home, this visitor mobilized resources to the tune of US$5,600. The money was sent to the Bishop at Mityana for the benefit of the College. As a team on a fact finding mission at Namutamba, we were satisfied with the priorities the money was put to. A new Dell Computer with a printer is in place and this is the 1st time a computer entered the administration block at Namutamba PTC! We saw a new photo copier machine, the 1st one in the College. There are fire extinguishers and a Compound Grass Cutter which is engine driven. Out of the administration building, we were shown a very huge water tank bought given that the water system was vandalized. We also saw with our eyes buildings to which new paint shows given the old looking paint on those that were not worked upon. Some money also went to replacement of electric cables some of which had been vandalized. We thank Mr. Kataza to have not been tempted to divert the money, and we are hopeful that any efforts for the revival of Namutamba T T C are in safe hands.

Namutamba Teachers College is the foundation of quality primary teaching. You can only refute it when you are ignorant. The 1st quality primary teaching that was pioneered at Mengo Primary School was spearheaded by teachers many of whom had their roots at Namutamba Teachers’ College. This was followed by the development of Kampala Parents’ School where Hon. Kasole had a big hand yet he had been party to the Mengo Primary School initiative. One cannot be happy to see a College with such firm roots going down the drain with infrastructure in place, yet when quality teachers are needed. I learnt that dr. Ddungu of Naalya S S is an old student of Namutamba TTC, the list of prominent people is really big; the likes of Godfrey Njagala, the Late Jimmy Katumba, Azaria Matembe of Buddo to mention a few. The teachers/tutors who have been through the College are not simple either there is Fagil Mandy who after graduating was posted to Namutamba, David Kiyimba, Hon. Kasole Bwerere is also a former teacher, Abby Kibalama of the Escatos brides, and many more. It is therefore a right proposal to request the Government of Uganda to re-instate Namutamba PTC among the Government aided.