Matovu planned retirement early

Matovu started planning retirement in 1972 when he got his first teaching job in Lugazi. Photo by Jessica Sabano 

In Summary

Busy. David Matovu has kept himself busy in retirement by engaging in activities such as training teachers and members of the Mukono teachers SACCO, writes Jessica Sabano

By Jessica Sabano

In 1998, at the age of 48, David Matovu Kyagambidwa retired voluntarily from formal employment. He had worked for 26 years. He was given an uphill task of heading schools whenever he was transferred. The 69-year-old is now a trainer for teachers at Mukono teachers SACCO and also visits other schools to train. “Retirement is helping to develop a very close bond with my family,” says Matovu.

Planning for retirement
Matovu, was a 22-year-old newly-qualified teacher when he joined Savitor Ben Mehta Primary School in Lugazi.
In a career that span more than 26 years, Matovu, has had numerous roles and responsibilities at all the schools he taught. He has previously been on the senior management team, run sports teams, taught English lessons and helped children with their reading. Having been appointed as headmaster in 1972, he started planning for his life after work.

Matovu wanted to have good retirement home. To achieve his dreams, Matovu would save most of his earning. He says he liked saving a lot even before and now trains teachers in savings.
“Some people say that it was too early for me to start thinking about retirement and also to retire since I had just been posted. However I knew that my time for retirement would come and I had strategize on how I would spend my time during retirement,” he says.

Coping with retirement
Some people usually find a hard time to cope with life after work. Matovu Kyagambidwa says his life was the same even after retiring.
This is because he had planned on how he could easily keep himself engaged and avoid being idle. “I always got involved in Kabaka’s activities since I have been the commissioner at Ssaza Kyaggwe County,” he says.
Matovu also keeps fit to ensure good health. He is a regular at the village gym besides jogging every morning and evening hours.
He says he did not find any difficulty in coping with retirement just like his working days, he still carries on training works.

Matovu has kept himself busy during his retirement time by engaging in activities such as training teachers and members of the Mukono teachers SACCO. “I am always called upon to go and carry out trainings in different schools in other districts,” he says. “I am retired but not tired,” he says. He is an executive member in charge of trainings at YMCA.
Additionally, he says he always prays at St Dunstan Church Mukono to keep in touch with God. He keeps himself updated and informed by reading newspapers every day.

Advice to fellow retirees
“Many people go into retirement without planning, which makes their life uncomfortable. Plan earlier to a void cases of being miserable in life. Retirement is a period in which you have to generate personal money by involving in different activities,” says Matovu.

Early life
Matovu was born November 11 in 1949.
He was raised in a family of Abisaga and David Matovu of Busajja Village, Wakiso District. He is the fourth born in their family. Matovu attended Masese Co-Educational school from 1958-1965 before joining Kitate secondary school for O Level in 1966 to 69.
In 1970, he went for a primary school teacher’s course at Shimon Teachers College where he qualified as grade three teacher. He qualified two years later and was posted at Savitor Ben Mehta Primary School in Lugazi.

After one year of teaching, Matovu was promoted and appointed head teacher at Savitor Ben Mehta Primary School. In 1973, Matovu left Savitor Ben Mehta Primary School for Namilyango Girls Primary School.
He also taught at Bishop West Primary School, Namuganga Primary School, Namuyenge Primary School and Lugazi West Primary School. By the time he retired, Matovu was head teacher at Katongo Primary School.
Matovu is now a prominent consultant in Mukono District. He earns about Shs2m per month from consultancy.