(This article was first published in the New Vision on October 5, 2022)
By Geofrey Nyamwongera
Hawa Kabugho was 18 years old when she was married off by her parents in 1998. Kabugho, who completed Primary Seven in the same year, was denied a chance to progress to secondary school uninterrupted and her right to make her own choice was abused.
But Kabugho, who is now a teacher at Simbya Primary School in Buganikere Town Council, Bundibugyo did not give up her dream and, in 2002, she enrolled for secondary education. By that time, though, she had three children.
Kabugho, now a teacher of English and social studies, says becoming a mother as a teenager, was an unpleasant experience, and that she would not want any girl to get pregnant before completing her education.
“I help the girls stay in school because of the experience I went through when I became a mother of three before joining secondary school,” she adds.
That is why, Kabugho says, she has mobilised girls at all the schools she has ever taught at to make their own sanitary pads. While the limited access to these sanitary products did not play a role in her getting married off as a teenager, she says some girls stay out of school due to a lack of these essential items, which eventually results in teenage pregnancies and marriages.
Making Sanitary Pads
Kabugho, who was transferred to Simbya in January from Busunga Primary School near the border between Uganda and DR Congo, says she had trained about 30 girls on how to make sanitary towels before her transfer. She explains that she had lobbied the school administration to purchase sanitary products to supplement the ones the girls made.
“I am happy because the school understood my request and started stocking sanitary pads for the girls to check absenteeism. Many girls used to miss school because of the menstrual cycles,” she adds.
Kabugho says she also trained girls at Bundimbele and Bundimulinga primary schools in Bundibugyo on how to make sanitary products and lobbied these institutions to buy sanitary towels for the female pupils.
She adds that she is currently lobbying the Simbya Primary School administration to start budgeting for the procurement of sanitary products as she mobilises girls to make some of these products at the school.
Revision And Baskets Weaving
Kabugho explains that she helped pupils with revising their notes and making sanitary pads and basket weaving at her home in Lamia II village, Busunga town council, Bundibugyo district during the COVID-19 lockdown between 2020 and 2021.
She adds that she also met with parents in Majada, Nyakonda and Mulungitanuwa villages in the same town council and encouraged them to protect their children and support them to revise their notes as they wait for schools to reopen.
“I mostly helped girls. I helped 10 girls with revision and making sanitary pads and weaving baskets at my home during the lockdown. They occasionally came to my home for lessons. We used cotton wool and pieces of clothes to make the sanitary pads,” Kabugho says.
Getting Back To School
Kabugho explains that when she received reports of five girls who got pregnant in Lamia II village, she made an effort to encourage more parents to protect their girls against potential defilers as these pregnancies emphasised the girls’ vulnerabilities.
When the schools reopened, she explains that she joined hands with local leaders in Buganikere Town Council to mobilise parents and guardians to send their children back to school.
Kabugho, who is the only female teacher at Simbya Primary School, says she treats all pupils like her own children. The school, which has over 400 pupils, is run by seven teachers.
“I always use my free time at school to help the pupils, mostly the girls. But I also involve the boys in the making of sanitary pads occasionally,” she adds. “As the only female teacher, I have issues I cannot share with my fellow male teachers, but it also helps me understand the issues girls have to face every day in our communities.”
What Others Say
Tomson Agaba, Headteacher, Simbya Primary School
Kabugho is the only female teacher at the school. She is committed and hardworking.
Festo Nkayarwa Bagonza, Deputy Headteacher
Kabugho always arrives at school early. She interacts with learners and motivates them. She has bonded with her learners. She is a smart teacher who prepares properly for her lessons with work and lesson plans.
Nicholas Aliganyira, Primary Four Pupil
I enjoy her lessons. She encourages us to sing in the classroom, which makes me forget about home. I can now make sanitary pads for my big sister because Teacher Kabugho has taught us how to do it.
Sarah Kabasomi, Primary Five Pupil
I treat her like my mother because I have learnt a lot of things from her that I should have learnt from my parents.
Moses Ahebwa, Headteacher, Busunga Primary School
Kabugho was among the best teachers at the school. We were not happy when we received a letter of her transfer because she treated all the children like her own.
Robert Byensi, Lc3 Chairperson, Buganikere
I found her at school on my routine monitoring programme recently and realised that she was the only female teacher. I learnt that she never misses her lessons.
Milton Kandole, District Inspector Of Schools
Kabugho loves her job and has been instrumental in the children’s education in all the schools where she has worked.
Career Guidance
Kabugho says she holds career guidance and counselling sessions for the girls every Friday, sharing with them about the benefits of education and essential information on sex and menstrual hygiene.
“The girls need to get the right information about sex and menstrual cycles so they learn how to manage them. It is important since some parents have failed to share with their children information about the dangers of early sex and marriages,” she notes.
Kabugho says he encourages all the children to participate in co-curricular activities as this helps young people identify their talent and encourages personal development.
“I always mobilise the children to participate in football and netball, as well as those activities that have an impact on the community. Co-curricular activities connect learners from different classes and help them learn to manage time,” she adds.
Kabugho says she explains the benefits of co-curricular activities to the learners, in order to encourage participation.
Golden Tips
- Fear God
- Believe in yourself
- Have self-esteem
- Be disciplined and patient
Fact File
- 1998: Sat Primary Leaving Exams at Bundibugyo Model Primary School
- 2005: Sat Uganda Certifi cate of Education at Light College Secondary School, Bundibugyo
- 2009: Graduated as Grade III teacher from Bundibugyo Primary Teachers College
- 2011: Started teaching at Bundimbele Primary School, Bundibugyo
- 2014: Transferred to Bundimulinga Primary School, Bundibugyo
- 2017: Posted to Busunga Primary School, Bundibugyo
- 2022 to date: Teacher at Simbya Primary School
