St. Lawrence Schools teachers protest unpaid salaries, forced dismissals as Rector remains silent

Maria Justine Tulina, the Rector of St. Lawrence Schools and Colleges, is also the chairperson board of Directors of St. Lawrence University (SLAU), a position previously held by her late father, Prof. Lawrence Mukiibi.

Kampala, (UG):– The Rector of St. Lawrence Academy Schools and Colleges, one of Kampala’s most prestigious educational institutions, is embroiled in a growing controversy over unpaid teachers’ salaries, withheld staff savings, and alleged unlawful dismissals, adding the the long list of scandals the school continues to face since the demise of its founder, the late Prof Lawrence Mukiibi.

Teachers attached to the School’s Creamland campus have come out to accuse the Rector, Ms Justine Tulina, the daughter of the late Prof Mukiibi, of failing to pay their salaries while also withholding accumulated savings deducted from their monthly wages over the past four years.

The aggrieved staff who opened up to DailyExpress explained that the crisis deepened when the school’s Ms Tulina allegedly transferred students from Creamland Campus to other campuses in mid-February this year, just three weeks into the new term, without prior consultation from the campus administration.

The unexpected move left teachers without pupils to teach, only to be informed through proxies that they had to vacate the teachers’ quarters without any compensation.

“We were completely blindsided,” said one affected teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity to express themselves freely. “One morning, we woke up to empty classrooms and dormitories. No formal notice, no prior discussions, just an abrupt displacement, and now, we are being denied salaries we have worked for.”

The staff further revealed that the school had been deducting UGX 50,000 monthly from their salaries as part of a staff savings scheme. However, despite contributing for years, many claim they have never received any payouts and are now left in shambles with the abrupt dismissals.

“For us, it is not about being asked to leave. It’s about being treated fairly,” another teacher said. “We have dedicated years of service to this school. We just want our salaries and our accumulated savings.”

Teachers Vow Legal Action

The affected staff, led by the headteacher of Creamland Campus, have now vowed to take legal action against the Rector for unfair dismissal and breach of contract unless she clears them out.

Documents seen by this publication indicate that the lawyers have already drafted a demand notice and notice of intention to sue the Rector for what they termed as “Breach of Contract and Unlawful Termination of Work.”

The teachers have also engaged legal advisors and reached out to workers’ unions, including UNATU (Uganda National Teachers’ Union) and NOTU (National Organization of Trade Unions), as well as the Workers’ MP in Parliament, to intervene in the matter.

When contacted, the Kampala District Education Office acknowledged being aware of the aggrieved teachers’ complaints and pledged to investigate the allegations, emphasizing that any unlawful dismissals and financial irregularities must be addressed.

“We take these claims very seriously,” said a senior official from the Education Office. “If found guilty, the school administration will be held accountable.”

Rector Silent as Pressure Mounts

The Rector, since the transfer of students and rendering the Creamland Campus non-functional, has gone silent and paid a deaf ear to the aggrieved staff, without even engaging the campus administration on the way forward.

DailyExpress made several attempts to reach out to her over the matter, but all efforts turned futile, as repeated calls to her known phone numbers were all unsuccessful by press time.

In the wake of the teachers’ plight, education activists have come out to condemn the school’s handling of the situation, calling it a gross violation of teachers’ rights. “This is not just about salaries, this is about respect and dignity for teachers,” said one activist. “If an institution of this stature can treat its staff like this, what message does it send to the education sector?”