”Stop Dragging Mbale SS Into Your Dirty Politics”-Stakeholders Warn Critics

By Swift Reporter

Stakeholders of Mbale Secondary School (Mbale SS) have dismissed allegations linking the school’s administration to partisan politics, urging leaders to keep educational institutions out of political contests and allow them to focus on delivering quality education.

The stakeholders were responding to recent claims allegedly made by Masaba Emmanuel Sebunyo, whom they accused of using the school to pursue political interests following the participation of some Mbale SS students in an event attended by President Yoweri Museveni.

Addressing the matter, the stakeholders described the allegations that the school’s head teacher and administration support the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) as false, misleading and intended to tarnish the reputation of one of the Bugisu sub-region’s oldest and most respected institutions.

“Mbale SS is a giant school that has served the Bugisu region for decades. Its academic excellence, infrastructure development, sports facilities and overall contribution to education have made it one of the region’s most admired institutions. Government and all stakeholders should protect such a school instead of allowing it to be dragged into unnecessary politics,” the stakeholders said.

They stressed that Mbale Secondary School is a government-aided institution and not a Universal Secondary Education (USE) school, explaining that parents willingly pay tuition because of the quality education, discipline and continuous development offered by the institution.

According to the stakeholders, parents remain satisfied with the school’s leadership, academic performance, infrastructure development and the opportunities it provides to learners.

They said attempts to politicize the school risk undermining its achievements and distracting administrators and teachers from their core responsibility of educating students.

The stakeholders also called on Masaba Emmanuel Sebunyo to desist from spreading what they described as misinformation and instead focus on initiatives that promote the development of the Bugisu sub-region.

“We have seen the messages circulating on social media, but we are not going to give them unnecessary attention because they do not reflect the views of the parents and stakeholders of Mbale SS. The school belongs to the people of Bugisu, and we shall continue to support its growth and development,” they said.

They urged parents, alumni and members of the public not to be swayed by claims they described as politically motivated, insisting that the institution’s reputation has been built over decades through academic excellence and disciplined leadership.

The stakeholders further noted that Mbale Secondary School has produced thousands of professionals, public servants and leaders who continue to contribute to Uganda’s development in various sectors.

“Its contribution to education in Bugisu and the country at large cannot be overshadowed by political propaganda. We therefore appeal to everyone to keep politics away from our schools and allow teachers and administrators to focus on providing quality education,” they added.

Reaffirming their confidence in the school’s leadership, the stakeholders pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at improving learning, infrastructure, discipline and academic excellence, saying Mbale SS should remain a centre of educational excellence rather than a subject of political controversy.