Uganda Has Few Nursery Teachers Because Government Won’t Hire Them: Meet Namuddu Margret Kawombe, the Veteran Who Survived and Thrived Anyway

Namuddu Margret Kawombe’s remarkable journey as a certified nursery teacher with nearly 20 years of experience serves as a beacon of hope and practical wisdom in Uganda’s evolving early childhood education landscape.

In a country where qualified nursery teachers remain scarce largely because the government has historically not directly employed ECD professionals in public systems, leaving the sector dominated by private providers, many young people have opted to pursue teaching qualifications as secondary school teachers. This has led to high unemployment or underpayment among over 90% of those trained in secondary education teaching fields, as job opportunities lag behind the number of graduates entering the market.

The Scribe Journalist, Nakagombe Carol Kwagala, visited Margaret’s home in Walusubi and profiled her as a personality of the week.

Born on June 6, 1979, in Kokomo village, Buikwe District, Margret grew up in a stable extended family led by her parents, Mr. Kilule James Lukwago and Mrs. Nassozi Scovia. She attended Ssugu Umea Primary School in the Ssugu area, then Bishop Nkoyoyo Secondary School in Matale village, Ngogwe sub-county, both community schools in Buikwe. Her passion led her to YMCA Comprehensive Institute in Kampala, where she earned her Certificate in Nursery Teaching.

Tragedy struck post studies: her parents separated, forcing her to support her younger siblings without a job. Her first teaching role paid only 5,000 Ugandan shillings per month, insufficient for survival. Instead of despairing, she innovated by integrating agriculture as a side business, sustaining her family while building her teaching career.

Today, she proudly achieves what many dream of: paying tuition for her children’s education and owning her home in Walusubi, Mukono District, milestones of financial independence and security earned through perseverance.

Margret remains joyful in her work, cherishing the privilege of shaping young minds.

young children require immense time, patience, and attention for their developmental needs

Her advice to young people eyeing nursery teaching is golden and timely:

‘Do not rely on teaching alone. Engage in other businesses’,

as she did with agriculture, to ensure financial stability, prevent monotony, and sustain passion long-term. In Uganda’s context where ECD jobs are limited but policies are opening doors this entrepreneurial mindset positions aspiring teachers for success.

The recent education policy shifts offer real promise. The government, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, approved the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy in May 2024, integrating ECD caregiver training into Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs), introducing sponsorships for diploma-level ECD programs, and finalizing draft standards for ECCE centers. Reforms effective in 2025 include stricter guidelines for nursery operations, such as reduced teacher-to-child ratios (now 1:25 max), adjusted school hours, and emphasis on quality early learning. Efforts continue to attach pre-primary units to government primary schools, as advocated by President Museveni, aiming to expand access and create structured roles for qualified nursery teachers.

These developments could significantly benefit professionals like Margret: greater public integration of pre-primary sections may lead to more formal government employment opportunities, potentially with improved pay and stability compared to private nurseries. For aspiring young teachers, this means ECD certification could become a pathway to secure, rewarding careers, especially if combined with the resilience Margret demonstrates.