Do you know Mary Machogu, the Dean of Students at Bunda Teachers’ College?

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

On this day, the Regional Commissioner of Mara, Colonel Evans Alfred Mtambi, was launching a campaign for the administration of medication against schistosomiasis and intestinal worms for students in the Mara Region. The launch took place at Bunda Teachers’ College, inside the large hall of the institution.

Mwanakwetu arrived early and, while looking at the hall from the back seats—which were already full of people—he noticed that there were no sockets or cables at the back where he could plug in his laptop to work properly when the event began. All the cables were located at the front of the hall.

So Mwanakwetu went to the administration office of the college, where the Principal’s clerk, a very polite young lady, is usually present. On this particular day he did not see her. Feeling somewhat uneasy, he peeked into another office and saw a dark-skinned woman wearing glasses. He hesitated to approach her, then quietly moved past and entered another room full of computers. There he met a very energetic tall young man and explained his problem:

“Brother, I’m from the Office of the Mara Regional Commissioner in the Government Communications Unit. I’m here waiting for the Regional Commissioner to arrive. I kindly ask to sit somewhere in a room next to the hall that has a cable and power socket so I can do my journalistic work properly. The speakers can be heard clearly from there as if I were inside the hall, because the back of the hall has no socket or cable.”

The young man quickly replied, Look for the teacher on duty, meaning the instructor on duty, and then walked away.

Mwanakwetu sat there for a few seconds. Soon he saw a woman and her daughter leaving the office of the woman with glasses—the same office he had earlier hesitated to enter.

The mother was telling her daughter:

“That teacher with glasses has advised you well, my daughter. Just go and retake those subjects at the centers she recommended so you can qualify either for university or middle-level colleges. My child, forget about men… you’ve already seen how they distracted you.”

The mother and daughter continued talking as they walked toward the gate, leaving Bunda Teachers’ College, which offers a Diploma in Teaching for Social Sciences.

At this point Mwanakwetu was at a crossroads, wondering how he would find the teacher on duty. He was standing in front of the Principal’s office. The clerk he usually met was not there. The Regional Commissioner of Mara often visits this college for several government meetings.

While thinking about this, he realized that the computer technician he had spoken to was probably not familiar with the terminology used in teachers’ colleges, especially when he said:Wait for the teacher on duty.

In teachers’ colleges, there are instructors, including one Instructor on Duty who supervises the trainee teachers (students studying to become teachers). Among the trainees, one male and one female act as teachers on duty, learning responsibilities such as writing daily reports, supervising school activities, receiving visitors, and recording events in the Log Book and Black Book.

Remember this as well:

On that day, if the staff were attentive, the Bunda Teachers’ College Log Book must have recorded that the college hosted a major visit from the Mara Regional Commissioner, who came to launch the distribution of medication against schistosomiasis and worms.

So when the young man said wait for the teacher on duty, he actually meant the instructor on duty. But Mwanakwetu, being a visitor, did not know how to find that person.

He considered going back to the woman with glasses whose office was between the computer room and the Principal’s office, but he hesitated. He wanted to explain his problem to her but still felt unsure. Eventually he decided to return to the energetic computer technician and said:

“Brother, listen. I’m a visitor here. How will I know who the teacher on duty is? To me, right now, you are the teacher on duty. Please help me find a place where I can do this public work.”

All of this happened within 3–5 minutes, while the Regional Commissioner had not yet arrived.

The technician finally helped him and found him a good place to sit—the office of the dark-skinned woman with glasses, which had two desks.

Soon the Regional Commissioner arrived and conducted the launch. Mwanakwetu successfully completed his journalistic work. Afterwards he asked the woman with glasses her name, and she replied:

“My name is Mary Machogu. I am the Dean of Students at Bunda Teachers’ College. In the current structure the title is called Coordinator of Student Affairs. You are very welcome to Bunda Teachers’ College. Bring your child or even your relatives to study teaching here.”

Later Mwanakwetu took her photograph and returned to Musoma town.

In his article about the Regional Commissioner’s visit, Mary Machogu was mentioned, especially regarding the teaching courses offered at the college. A few days later he posted her photo on social media. The photo attracted over 100 likes and more than 100 comments, and many people shared it.

Ten well-known people commented on the photo. Two of them were:

Dr. Gilman Nyamumbi, a scholar from the University of Dar es Salaam who once taught Mwanakwetu during his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He asked:

“Is she the Dean of Students or the Dean of Bunda Teachers’ College?”

Mwanakwetu answered the question.

Hon. Antony Mtaka, the Regional Commissioner of Njombe, commented:

“My friend! When you see the desk of a Dean of Students full of big books like that, know that the dean is very strict. I will look for a laptop for our dean and give it to her when I travel to Suguti.”

The photo sparked many discussions, including whether it is better for a teachers’ college to have a male or female Dean of Students. Some opposed having a female dean, while others opposed having a male dean. Many did not know that if the main dean is a woman, the assistant must be a man, and vice versa.The debates became intense, and many people even called our colleague about the photo.

Among all the commenters, the most humorous remark came from Bundala Juma Bundala, who said:

“If there is someone who knows the secrets of students, it is the Dean of Students. On that desk you will find cases of students cheated by lovers, girls who terminated pregnancies and faced health challenges, and students borrowing money and struggling to repay.”

All these discussions revolved around Mary Machogu, the Dean of Students at Bunda Teachers’ College in Mara Region, whom our colleague met during the Regional Commissioner’s visit in early 2026.

What does our colleague say today?

Today I wanted you to know the things I observed during the February 2026 visit of the Mara Regional Commissioner to Bunda Teachers’ College, where I met Mary Machogu, the Coordinator of Student Affairs. I learned how well she works in helping, guiding, and advising young people at the college.

Even better, everyone who visits her office is warmly welcomed and receives advice—even parents whose children do not study at the college. These are the true responsibilities of an instructor, teacher, or lecturer in any educational institution.

The most interesting part is that the photo of Mary Machogu sparked such a discussion that even Njombe Regional Commissioner Antony Mtaka promised to gift her a laptop.

Mwanakwetu says:

“Hon. Antony Mtaka, when the day comes to hand over that laptop, please inform me so I can witness it. Even if I’m not there, make sure journalists witness this kind gesture showing how a regional commissioner can go beyond the boundaries of his office.”