Alebtong district leadership is under intense scrutiny, with its two Members of Parliament having agreed to task the district security team to appear before Parliament.

This follows the unlawful arrest of three head teachers on October 19 on the orders of the District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Captain Sserugo Simon, and Deputy RDC Lutwama Mathias.

The officials demanded that the head teachers justify whether they knew that they were doing was right.

The matter came to light on Friday at a stakeholders’ meeting for all head teachers in Alebtong district, held at Bar Opira Primary School in Ajuri County and Alira Primary School in Moroto County.

The meeting was chaired by Ajuri County MP Fred Jalameso, alongside Moroto County MP Leo Elem and other education department officials, following the recent arrest and four-day detention of three head teachers at Alebtong Central Police Station.

The teachers were accused of inflating learner enrollment figures in their respective schools.

Immediately after the meeting, the Minister for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, called the RDC of Alebtong district, Geoffrey Okiswa to order the release of UPE capitation grants that had been sent in July to help head teachers run their schools.

He was shocked to learn that Alebtong district had not yet disbursed the funds to the head teachers.

Milly Akullu, head teacher of Akwangel Primary School, doubles as the Alebtong district chairperson for head teachers. She stated that if there are allegations against any head teacher, they should not be arrested like a goat but should be summoned professionally.

She lamented that the recent events have left them so disorganised that they cannot continue staying at school, and no one is willing to return.

“We don’t want to die with pressure; we have children to feed and want to swallow our medicine well while we are stable. If not, we are going to lay down our tools and go sit back home,” she said.

Speaking during the engagement meeting, MP Leo Elem stated that following the unlawful arrest conducted by the Office of the DISO in Alebtong district, he urges those holding public offices to first apply common sense as they continue with their work.

He noted that most of the knowledge gained from the classroom is very limited and pledged to investigate the matter until the DISO confirms who ordered him to conduct the arrest, especially since his supervisor, RDC Geoffrey Okiswa, was not informed.

According to Ajuri County MP Fred Jalameso, it is criminal for the DISO to order the arrest of head teachers.

As leaders representing the people of Alebtong district, he pledged to pursue this matter of reckless arrest to the highest level until they get the reason why the arrest was conducted, so that teachers have some respect while running their different institutions where they have been posted.

Jalameso encouraged the teachers not to allow any kind of arrest, especially if someone comes to arrest them without an arrest warrant.

He emphasised that anyone in this country has the right to demand an arrest warrant, and any arrest must be conducted by the police, not the DISO or a bodyguard.

Jalameso stated that the DPC of Alebtong was not informed about the arrest and was not aware that the operation was going on, including the district chairperson and the head of security in the district, the RDC.

He concluded that there is a high level of corruption in Alebtong District Local Government, starting from the top.

Therefore, they are calling upon the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the Alebtong district leadership and clean out some of the insects who are good at killing the development of Alebtong District.

“We are not going to tolerate their behavior, but we shall work together with the district leaders to ensure that suspected victims are picked and followed with the law for this country without favor to anyone,” he said.

Alebtong District Education Officer (DEO) Moses Agel appreciated the Members of Parliament regarding what happened to some of the head teachers over four days ago at Alebtong Central Police Station.

He encouraged the head teachers to get back to their different schools in preparation for the PLE, calling for an increase in the number of head teachers, as many of them are just caretakers, including teachers.

Alebtong district LC5 chairperson Ambrose Ongom stated that as a father of the district, if he has seen something going wrong in his presence, he will not allow it to continue.

He noted that the arrest took place at the wrong time because they are just about to enter national exams for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) countrywide.

When phoned for a comment, Captain Sserugo Simon, DISO of Alebtong, stated that they need Minister Balaam in Alebtong because there is a high level of corruption in the district.

He alleged that the RDC and some technical people were involved in tribalism and that the DISO is threatening their lives on the matter of the Luwero Triangle, which he said is not true.

Assistant RDC of Alebtong district, Lameck Ongom, apologised for what had already happened and pledged that it would not be repeated, although investigations shall continue.

Ongom also appreciated the effort that Alebtong head teachers are doing to ensure that learners are knowledgeable, although some of the schools are in bad condition.