Exposed: Naomi Ruth Davidson Fires Teacher For Demanding 4-Month Salary, Tamaris Christian International School Under Fire

A long-serving teacher is calling on education authorities to intervene after being abruptly dismissed from Tamaris International Christian School, formerly known as King’s International School, without payment of salary arrears and statutory contributions.

Grace Mbambu, a soft-spoken but committed educator, says she spent six years teaching at the Muyenga-based private school before it relocated to Upper Buziga under a new name. She joined the institution in 2018, often walking long distances to get to work early and staying late to support learners and manage classroom activities.

Her employment, however, ended unceremoniously on 31/August/ 2025 after she inquired about her delayed salary.

In a message shared with The New Light Paper, the school’s owner Naomi Ruth Davidson, who previously managed King’s International, which later changed the name to Tamaris Christian International School told her, “We unfortunately do not have a position for you in Tamaris.”

Grace says the dismissal came without notice and followed years of irregular pay. “It has been a very tough experience ever since I joined,” she said. “Staff have left because of the same issue and left their money behind.” According to her, the school owes her four months’ salary totaling Shs6,966,000, in addition to unpaid contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). “In six years, I only received four NSSF instalments,” she said.

A document titled Payment Plan 2025–2026, shared by Naomi in March, details unpaid salary dating back several years.

While partial payments were made at different intervals, the plan appears not to have been honoured. In subsequent messages, Naomi attributed the delay to bankruptcy, saying she could only repay when she secures employment, “which only God knows when.”

Grace, however, contends that the rebranding to Tamaris International Christian School is an attempt to evade financial obligations to former staff. “It’s the same school, just a new name and new staff to cover the tracks,” she said. She believes the management is using the claim of “new ownership” to avoid accountability.

She also disputes the justification offered for her termination. Naomi cited the lack of a signed contract and administrative restructuring as part of the decision to let her go. “Your job was seen as insecure,” read one message. But Grace maintains she worked full-time, fulfilled her responsibilities, and often went beyond her assigned duties.

Following her dismissal, Grace says she has been forced to transfer her child to a more affordable school and is now appealing to the Ministry of Education and other relevant institutions for support. “All I want is to end this peacefully—with what I’ve earned,” she said.

Efforts to contact Tamaris International Christian School for comment were unsuccessful by press time. However, online traces continue to link the school’s current identity to its former operations under King’s, including a shared WhatsApp contact and overlapping locations.

As education stakeholders continue to push for stronger protections for private school employees, Grace’s case highlights the need for transparent employment practices, timely payments, and better regulatory oversight.

She remains hopeful that her appeal will be heard and addressed after getting assurance from the top bosses at the ministry of education.