KAMPALA, Uganda – Fresh tensions have erupted at Old Kampala Secondary School as the Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) has publicly vowed to halt what it terms “random transfers” of staff and curb escalating conflicts of interest within the school administration.
The hardline stance is captured in a formal follow-up letter dated 3rd December 2025, addressed to the Head Teacher, which details resolutions from the PTA’s Annual General Meeting held days earlier.
The association has squarely rejected a recent decision by the school’s Board of Governors to transfer Deputy Head Teachers, teachers, and other staff, describing the move as destabilizing. “Halt any transfers… to ensure stability and continuity, given the current situation,” the resolution reads, signaling the PTA’s direct intervention in administrative matters typically handled by the Board.
This demand is part of a broader wave of resistance from parents, who are pushing back against several decisions they argue were made without proper representation or due process. Central to the conflict is the issue of governance and potential conflict of interest.
In a significant move, the PTA has rejected the removal of its leaders from key school committees. It specifically overturned a resolution that withdrew the PTA Chairperson from chairing the Disciplinary Committee and the PTA Treasurer from the Academics Committee. The letter states this was done “without meeting the quorum and without representation from all parents,” and insists both officials resume their roles.
The conflict deepens with the PTA’s demand for the reinstatement of its Treasurer, Mr. Mboowa Ivan, to the School’s Board of Governors. Citing advice from the Solicitor General, the PTA claims there is no official record of his removal, implying his ouster was irregular and possibly motivated by internal politics.
Further resolutions highlight a growing rift over financial burdens on parents. The PTA has cancelled decisions mandating compulsory purchases of additional uniforms and rejected a policy requiring non-candidate students to pay 50% of fees upfront. Instead, they propose a three-week grace period for all.
The association also intervened in a disciplinary matter, insisting that only specific S2 students involved in damaging property should pay a reduced fine, rather than penalizing the entire class.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the PTA has called for an immediate stop to “the swamping/selling of Old Kampala SSS Plot 19,” suggesting concerns over the management of school assets.
The letter, signed by PTA Vice Chairman Mabira Shafic, requests all resolutions be implemented “with immediate effect” and has been copied to high-ranking officials including the Minister for Higher Education, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and the Lord Mayor, raising the dispute to a national administrative level.
The ball is now in the court of the school’s administration and Board of Governors, setting the stage for a potentially tense showdown.
