UNATU’s Southern Region Youth Workshop Empowers Future Leaders

The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) hosted a transformative youth teachers’ training workshop on July 12, 2024, at the Tropic Inn Hotel in Masaka City, Southern Region. Bringing together 108 enthusiastic young educators, the workshop focused on fostering leadership, understanding teachers’ rights, and promoting financial literacy. Key UNATU figures, including the National Representative for Teachers with Disabilities, the National Youth Representative, the Vice National Regional Chairperson, and the UNATU General Secretary, were in attendance.

The workshop opened with a warm welcome from the Regional Vice Chairperson, who acknowledged the profound influence of General Secretary Baguma Filbert Bates on his career. He lauded the GS as a mentor and strategic leader, particularly for his efforts in engaging youth within UNATU. “Looking at the youth means passing the torch to others who are energetic,” he remarked. He also thanked the Regional Coordinator, Muhanguzi David for the good work done.

Namayengo Herone, the Youth Representative, underscored the critical need for youth involvement in union activities. She pointed out that although branches included youth members, leadership roles were often lacking. Encouraging active participation in virtual meetings, she stressed, “There is nothing for us without us,” and emphasized the importance of teachers upgrading their qualifications.

General Secretary Baguma Filbert Bates articulated the workshop’s objectives, inspiring the youth to embrace leadership roles now rather than in the future. Sharing his own journey of becoming a teacher leader within four years of service, he encouraged the participants to seek information actively and remain proactive learners. He highlighted the importance of visiting the UNATU website for updates and facilitated a session where the UNATU ICT assistant guided the youth on navigating the site.

Bates addressed several critical issues, including understanding the Constitution of Uganda, particularly Chapter 4, which deals with the protection and promotion of fundamental and other human rights and freedoms. He explained the legal provisions for joining and withdrawing from a union, as well as maternity and paternity leave rights, and conditions for sick leave. He urged the youth to familiarize themselves with the Public Standing Orders 2021.

The General Secretary also focused on financial awareness, discouraging multiple borrowing and uninformed loan signing. He highlighted the issue of insurance fraud and recommended the UNATU SACCO as a reliable financial solution, charging a 15% per annum interest rate. Additionally, Bates discussed the national teacher policy and its frameworks, including continuous professional development, teacher incentive, and social dialogue frameworks.

The workshop addressed teacher shortages, with Bates explaining that while this is a strategic issue, it ensures the remaining teachers are highly valued. He encouraged the youth to adhere to their teaching schedules and further their studies to be valued like other professionals. “Information empowers you to be the person you need to be and leaders do not lead from the back but from the front,” Bates stated.

A significant topic discussed was the membership ID process, which has been streamlined due to the availability of machines in various regions, resulting in shorter processing times. Bates encouraged the youth to mobilize passport photos to facilitate this endeavor.

Youth teachers raised the need for certificates for such workshops, to which Bates committed that certificates would be provided through the Branch Chairpersons. The workshop concluded with a collective appreciation for the information shared, acknowledging the efforts to close the information gap within the union.

The UNATU Southern Region Youth Workshop was a significant step towards empowering young teachers, ensuring they are well-informed, and preparing them for future leadership roles within the union and beyond.