Mr. Stephen Besweri Akabway

Mr. Stephen Akabway started out as a secondary school teacher and rose through the ranks to become the headmaster of his former school TCA from 1976 to 1979. Mr. Akabway has also served as acting commissioner general of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). Stephen B. Akabway has also served as the Chairman, Interim Electoral Commission of the Republic Of Uganda.
A former eighth Head Teacher of Teso College Aloet, Mr. Stephen Besweri Akabway went to Ngora High School (1955-1957) for junior secondary [education] and Teso College Aloet (1958-1961) for O‘ level; and serverd as a head-boy during his last year in TCA. He attended A‘ level, in Ntare School (1962-1963) and was a House Captain. He joined University of Dar es Salaam (1964-1967) for Bachelor of Arts; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Nairobi University (1968-1969); and then for Higher Diploma in Education, University of Edinburgh (1972-1973). He earned a Master of Arts and PhD from Washington University, USA (2001-2006).
He began his career as teacher in Ngora High School (1967-1971), went to National Teachers College Kyambogo as Tutor (1974), and then to Bukedi College Kachonga where he served as Headmaster (1975). A year later, he was transferred on promotion to Teso College Aloet (1976-1979. He was appointed to Senior Inspector, Ministry of Education and Sports (1979-1989); Commissioner, Presidential Commission for Teso (1990-1991); Senior Principal Revenue Officer, Uganda Revenue Authority (1992-93); Constituent Assembly Commissioner (1993-1994); Chairman Interim Electoral Commission (1994-1996) as well as Commissioner Customs (1996-1997), Commissioner Finance (1997), and Deputy Commissioner General (1997-2005), Uganda Revenue Authority.

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH MR. STEPHEN BESWERI AKABWAY ON TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, 21-22 AUGUST 2012

Martin Okoed (MO): Papa, records indicate that you were a Headteacher of Teso College Aloet from 1976 to 1979. Can you please tell me your biography, education background and civil service experience in brief?

Stephen Besweri Akabway (SBA): I turned seventy one last Monday August 20, 2012… [When you do your calculation, you‘ll find that] I was born in 1941 during World War II… I went to Ngora High School (1955-1957) for junior secondary [education] and Teso College Aloet (1958-1961) for O‘ level; I was head-boy during my last year there. For A‘ level, [I was in] Ntare School (1962-1963) where I was a House Captain not Head-boy as some people claim. Thereafter, I joined University of Dar es Salaam (1964-1967) for Bachelor of Arts; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Nairobi University (1968-1969); and then for Higher Diploma in Education, University of Edinburgh (1972-1973)… I earned a Master of Arts and PhD from Washington University, USA (2001-2006)…

I humbly began as classroom teacher in Ngora High School (1967-1971), went to National Teachers College Kyambogo as Tutor (1974), and then to Bukedi College Kachonga where I served as Headmaster (1975). I do not know how it feels to be a deputy headmaster [laughter]. A year later, I was transferred on promotion to Teso College Aloet (1976-1979) from where I ascended through Senior Inspector,

Ministry of Education and Sports (1979-1989); Commissioner, Presidential Commission for Teso (1990-1991); Senior Principal Revenue Officer, Uganda Revenue Authority (1992-93); Constituent Assembly Commissioner (1993-1994); Chairman Interim Electoral Commission (1994-1996) as well as Commissioner Customs (1996-1997), Commissioner Finance (1997), and Deputy Commissioner General (1997-2005), Uganda Revenue Authority.

MO: How did you end up becoming the Headteacher of Teso College?

SBA: I was appointed in 1975 as Headmaster of Bukedi College Kachonga which was an O‘ level school; I served there for one year. In the following year, I was transferred to Teso College Aloet on promotion.

MO: What were the challenges which you faced as a former headteacher of TCA?

SBA: First and foremost, the teachers were drunkards. They were not committed …and dealing with them was a thing so difficult…Secondly, the students never took part in cleaning toilets which they used and yet in our time we cleaned our toilets. Students…that time annoyed me very much… And the greatest challenge I faced was the general scarcity of items including food and “sabuni [soap]. Getting salt, sugar or soap during Amin‘s regime was not easy. I spent most of my time looking for such items instead of concentrating on administering the school.

MO: Assume you could be the headteacher of Teso College Aloet the second time around, what would you have done differently or better?

SBA: By and large…there is nothing I would do better than what all the previous headteachers have done well.

MO: What is your advice to the present and future headteachers in TCA?

SBA: They should emulate what [the most recent headteachers] Kad [Oliba], my name-sake [Akabwai] and Silvester [Ocaatum], have done… They should keep improving the students‘ discipline, academic performance and school infrastructure. Likewise, they should promote co-curricular activities… In our time I was the Secretary General of the Cooperative Society and we owned a shop which generated income for us…

MO: What is your message to the former and present students of Teso College?

SBA: I urge them strongly to revive the Old Boys‘ Association and take part in the development of the school. Other schools are far better because old students have taken part in their development. [As a matter of fact]…the headteacher alone cannot really do much without the support of those who once studied in Teso College Aloet. I pray that they [old students] take this seriously.

MO: Your last word, please.

SBA: As a teacher, I have been studying all along…People should remain studious till the day of their death.