Pader, (UG): Police in Pader District are holding a secondary school teacher who was arrested on Wednesday on allegations of alcoholism when he was found drunk during teaching hours.
The suspect identified as Odokonyero Robert, a teacher of Biology in Ordinary O’level at the government-aided Puranga Senior Secondary School in Pader district allegedly woke up and went straight without reporting to the school in the morning.
The School headteacher, Mr Martine Muyoba confirmed Odokonyero’s arrest and said that the suspect is a renowned drunkard who always prefers alcohol to teaching.
Mr Muyoba said the teacher (suspect) was spotted by locals in one of the bars after disappearing on the 2nd of October 2023 when he got his salary.
Meanwhile, Mr. Francis Depola Ojok, the Puranga town council chairperson said the suspect was arrested at around 3 pm on charges of abuse of office and negligence of duty after he was found drinking in one of the bars next to his office.
According to Ojok, the whole day the teacher did not turn up to the school because he was too drunk to teach, and denied reporting to the authorities’ offices when called since he was violent.
“The suspected teacher has got records of lack of respect to the school authorities after several reported issues of misconduct on him. The increase in the science teacher’s salary could have also played a role since there is much to spend,” Ojok explained.
The Chairperson Board of Governors at the school, Mr. Charles Okidi said he got reports from the urban chairperson III in regard to the teacher’s conduct. “I concurred with the LC 3 and advised that he be arrested as a way of a preventive measure to save his life and a punishment for his bad conduct as a teacher, “he added.
Okidi said that other teachers should learn from Odokonyero not to repeat the same offence which cuts the agreement signed between him and the government as far as education is concerned. “He will be taken to the chief administrative officer’s officer for proper handling of his bad conduct,” he asserted.
A police officer in Pader who preferred anonymity said that handling cases of alcoholism is a bit difficult unless a traffic officer intervenes and tests the suspect before he is sober. He further advised the aggrieved parties to seek administrative measures to handle the case.
The suspect is currently under Puranga police custody and the statement was recorded vide SD 12/11/10/2023.
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