Lwebisiriza, Kyankwanzi District | 17 August 2026
Teachers in Kyankwanzi District have been urged to take mental health, financial discipline and professional wellbeing more seriously, as pressure from debt, workload and personal challenges continues to affect many in the profession.
The call was made during a psychosocial support engagement organised by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) Kyankwanzi Branch on 17 August 2026 at Lwebisiriza.
The meeting brought together 134 teachers, including newly recruited teachers and youth teachers, alongside district and education leaders.
Among those present were the Kyankwanzi District LC V Chairperson, the Secretary for Education, the Chief Finance Officer, District Inspectors and other officials from the District Education Department.
UNATU was represented by the General Secretary, ICT personnel and the Kyankwanzi Branch leadership that help organise the workshop.
Call for unity and stronger teacher support
Kyankwanzi UNATU Branch Chairperson, Nakuya Unia, welcomed the General Secretary, district leaders and teachers to the engagement.
She thanked UNATU leadership for supporting teachers in the struggle for salary enhancement, noting that teachers had received the enhanced salaries in time.
Ms Nakuya said Kyankwanzi Branch currently has 1,018 members and called for unity among teachers, despite the emergence of other unions that continue to create confusion among some members.
She said UNATU remains a home for teachers across different subsectors and noted that the day’s program director who was from the science subsector reflected the spirit of unity across teacher categories.
She also appealed for child labour and early marriage interventions to be extended to Kyankwanzi, saying school attendance in some communities remains affected by seasonal patterns and social challenges.
The Branch Chairperson further raised concern over the high number of deaths among teachers, especially male teachers, and said this made psychosocial support even more urgent.
She also thanked the Human Resource Officer for the support extended to teachers and expressed hope that the branch will one day acquire its own property, since it is currently renting.
Education officials point to workload stress
Speaking on behalf of the District Education Officer, the inspector of schools welcomed participants and appreciated UNATU for organising the engagement.
She noted that teachers face heavy workloads and different forms of stress, making Mental Health and Psychosocial Support important for the profession.
She also thanked the General Secretary and the Kyankwanzi Branch Chairperson for their efforts in supporting teachers, especially in relation to the recent salary increment.
She encouraged teachers, including youth teachers, to treat wellbeing, professionalism and service as a shared responsibility across the education sector.
LC V Chairperson urges teachers to uphold professionalism
Kyankwanzi District LC V Chairperson, Semugaba Samuel, officially opened the meeting and praised teaching as one of the most important professions in society.
He encouraged teachers to follow the training attentively and use the knowledge gained to improve both their personal lives and professional conduct.
The LC V Chairperson pledged continued support towards teacher welfare, noting that quality education requires cooperation between teachers, the Education Department and district leadership.
He also pointed to teacher housing, improved service delivery and support for quality education as areas that require continued attention.
He urged teachers to uphold professionalism, teaching ethics and the Public Service Standing Orders.
“Can you observe and uphold the Public Service Standing Orders?” he asked.
He said the district would continue using the appropriate offices to share important information with teachers so that they can understand their responsibilities, rights and obligations more clearly.
The LC V Chairperson also raised concern over the growing debt burden among teachers, saying financial pressure can affect both wellbeing and performance.
He then declared the meeting officially open.
Chief Finance Officer warns against multiple borrowing
Kyankwanzi District Chief Finance Officer thanked UNATU for standing with teachers and continuing to advocate for their welfare.
He acknowledged the recent salary increment and encouraged the Union to continue engaging for improved teacher welfare.
In his presentation on personal financial management, he urged teachers to plan for their money and use it wisely.
He cautioned against unnecessary debt, multiple borrowing and financial decisions that create pressure without improving one’s livelihood.
He said borrowing should not disrupt a teacher’s work or create stress that affects performance in the classroom.
The Chief Finance Officer warned teachers against borrowing for non-productive spending, including merry-making, clothing and other short-term consumption expenses.
Instead, he encouraged them to consider income-generating activities such as piggery, poultry, goat rearing, crop farming, retail shops and canteens.
However, he reminded participants that their primary responsibility remains teaching.
He encouraged teachers to save consistently, even in small amounts, saying that saving UGX 50,000 a month can make a difference over time.
“Your salary may be small, but good financial discipline can make it work for you,” he said.
He guided teachers through simple principles of personal finance: earn, budget, spend according to plan, save before spending, invest in income-generating ventures and prepare for emergencies and retirement.
He also explained statutory deductions and loan deductions to help teachers better understand their payslips.
It’s almost fine, but it needs a small correction for grammar, punctuation, and professionalism—especially the quote at the end.
Here is the corrected version:
General Secretary leads mental health session
The main psychosocial support session was facilitated by the UNATU General Secretary, Baguma Filbert Bates.
He reminded teachers that mental health is part of general health and affects how people think, feel, behave, relate with others, and cope with the demands of life.
Mr Baguma said teachers are increasingly facing emotional, financial, professional, and social pressures, making it important for them to care for their wellbeing before challenges become overwhelming.
He referred to the 535 teachers lost in 2025, with male teachers accounting for the highest number, and used the figures to remind participants about the need to invest in themselves.
He encouraged teachers to take deliberate steps to protect their physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.
The General Secretary said self-care is not selfish but necessary for teachers who are expected to support learners, families, and communities.
He added: “Before you take care of others, you have to take care of yourself first.”
Union services and access to verified information
During the discussion session, the General Secretary responded to questions from teachers and clarified issues related to Union services, membership and access to information.
He explained how members can access corporate wear through the MyUNATU App and encouraged teachers to use official Union platforms for authentic information.
He also guided participants on accessing information through the UNATU website and warned against relying on unverified sources.
The General Secretary further explained how the 1% Union subscription is used, including how deductions support branch activities, Union operations and services to members.
He noted that membership is supported by proper registration and documentation, including IPPS details for teachers on the government payroll.
For teachers without IPPS numbers, he explained that they can still maintain membership through direct payment to the Union bank account.
He also responded to questions on salary enhancement, deductions and membership status.
The General Secretary urged teachers to keep proper records, retain copies of important documents and provide evidence whenever they need follow-up on salary, membership or employment-related matters.
CAO’s office appreciates UNATU support
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Administrative Officer, the closing The District Secretary for Education thanked UNATU for organising the training and praised the focus on stress management, financial discipline and teacher wellbeing.
He acknowledged staffing gaps in the district, but said efforts were underway to address them through the appropriate education and administrative structures.
He also appreciated UNATU for its continued advocacy on teacher salaries and welfare.
The engagement ended with a clear message to the teachers: wellbeing is not only about health, but also about discipline, information, financial choices and professional conduct.
For Kyankwanzi teachers, the meeting was a reminder that a supported teacher is better placed to serve learners, families and the wider community.
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