KAMPALA, 22nd July 2024 — The Central Region Youth meeting was held at Teachers House in Kampala, drawing a diverse group of educators from across the central region. This event aimed to foster leadership, collaboration, and unity among young teachers, addressing key issues and planning for the future.
The meeting featured notable attendees including the Regional Chair Central, Vice Regional Chair, the National Secretary for Women Affairs, the General Secretary, and the Regional Coordinator. Kamoga Cissy, the Regional Coordinator, welcomed the participants, commended their punctuality, and introduced representatives from various districts and municipalities.
A Call to Leadership and Professionalism: Bwambale William, the Regional Chairperson, emphasized the importance of staying connected and maintaining professional relationships with headteachers. “Teaching is a noble profession that deals with imparting knowledge and has a great influence on children,” he said. “Never regret being a teacher.” He reminded the youth that they are the leaders of today and encouraged them to prepare for retirement early. He also introduced the Regional Executive Committee members and called for active participation in leadership roles.
Empowering Educators: Nabirye Teddy, the National Secretary for Women Affairs, brought greetings from the National Executive Council and highlighted the significance of the meeting as a platform to share successes and challenges. “This is a time to talk about the teacher movement as the youth,” she said, reflecting on her own early days in the union. She emphasized the importance of innovation, unity, and the use of ICT, calling the youth the “fuel of innovation.” Addressing issues such as salary discrepancies, she stressed the need for continuous professional development, honesty, and courage in the profession. “It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re the best at it,” she added.
Union Support and Professional Development: Baguma Filbert Bates, General Secretary of UNATU, encouraged the youth to network and use the UNATU website for information. He underscored the importance of being informed as professionals and taking on leadership roles without fear. “You are the leaders of today, not tomorrow,” he stated. “You have to present yourselves.” He elaborated on the mandate of UNATU, focusing on the protection and promotion of teachers’ rights as outlined in the Ugandan constitution. He also detailed the retirement processes, calculations for pension benefits and encouraged financial prudence among teachers especially when dealing with loans and fraud from financial Institutions. “Avoid loans for unnecessary ventures you can’t sustain,” he cautioned.
Engaging Discussions: The plenary session saw youth attendees discussing issues like confirmation in service, salary increments, and the need for platforms to showcase talent. They appreciated the information shared and expressed support for the UNATU SACCO as a financial solution. Other topics included domestic violence, psycho-social support, and income-generating projects. Attendees were advised to manage stress, live within their means, and actively participate in union activities. “Be ambassadors of UNATU,” encouraged Baguma, stressing the importance of staying informed and engaged.
A Unified Vision for the Future: In her closing remarks, the Regional Vice Chairperson emphasized the use of union structures for information dissemination and encouraged educators to stand for the union. “We treasure you so much,” she said. “Share union information and start to stand for the union.”
The Central Region Youth meeting highlighted the critical role of young teachers in shaping the future of education. It emphasized the need for continuous professional development, unity, and proactive leadership, ensuring that the youth are well-prepared to lead the profession forward.
Thank you UNATU management for such a wonderful presentation and empowering the youth teachers. Your services are highly appreciated.
It was so nice to share with the GS.
He is such an oretor…
thank unatu for , they as Leaders started coming down, this is good