President Yoweri Museveni has asked leaders in the country to support Government’s Universal Education both at Primary and Secondary levels for socio-economic transformation.
The President Echoed his call at all the meetings and rallies held in Bunyoro Sub-region during his wealth creation campaign in Bunyoro.
The President held his last public rally at Kahunde Playground in Isunga sub county, Kagadi district where he addressed thousands of people who braved the heavy sunshine.
While addressing the People of Bunyoro the President urged leaders to implement Free Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) to prevent school dropouts, particularly among children from poor families
“Insist on free education for children in Government Schools and implement it. The rich can take their children to private schools, but those from poor families should have no excuse for dropping out,” the President said.
He warned that without free education and economic empowerment at the household level, local children may not access University Education, especially the Bunyoro University for which he launched its construction in Kikuube District.
“If families are still poor, children will drop out of school. If they drop out, who will attend this University? You will find students from other regions and countries such as South Sudan because local children didn’t complete Primary or Secondary Education. A University is not a marketplace, you must go through the Education System to qualify,” the President noted.
The Head of State emphasized the need for families to support their children’s education beyond the limited government scholarships available.
“Even where free education has been implemented, only a limited number of high-performing students receive government sponsorship. The rest rely on family support, which means we must focus on developing homesteads economically,” Museveni explained.
It should be recalled that during this tour, the President held the groundbreaking ceremony of the much awaited Bunyoro University.
Museveni advised the University planners to prioritize courses that create employment opportunities.
He shared lessons from establishing Mbarara University of Science and Technology, where he insisted on starting with medicine.
“A medical doctor cannot fail to get a job, whether here or abroad. That is why we started Mbarara University with medicine before adding Science Education and ICT,” Museveni said.
He cautioned against offering courses with limited job prospects, especially for students from peasant families
“It’s unfair to educate a child from a poor family in conflict resolution while others pursue fields that guarantee employment. Be careful about the courses you recommend for our children,” he advised
President Museveni reminded leaders that when the NRM government took power, Uganda had only one Public University, Makerere which was producing just 80 doctors annually
According to the WHO, one doctor should serve 500 people. With Uganda’s population at 46 million, we need more doctors,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to establishing a Public University in each of the country’s 18 zones or sub-regions.
He also referenced Uganda’s stability compared to neighboring countries experiencing turmoil, attributing it to the government’s strategic prioritization.
“Some people claim that NRM has forgotten them, but they don’t understand prioritization. When we were fighting, we knew what to handle first. Today, because the economy has grown, we are addressing more issues, including expanding Public Universities,” he said.
The President assured Bunyoro that with petroleum revenues expected next year, more development projects will be realized.
“A Runyankole proverb says, Engabo yakyeli togyihera mwana mubazi: literally to Mean – You don’t give a heavy shield to a weak child. We started Mbarara University when people opposed me, saying we should consolidate Makerere. But the concept of public universities is mine, and we shall continue expanding,” he emphasized.
He appreciated the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, for her patience and dedication to managing Uganda’s Education Sector.
The Chairperson of Bunyoro University Task Force that is overseeing the realization of the first public university in that area, Professor Samuel Kyamanywa explained that the University has been the long-awaited game changer to improve higher education for learners in the entire sub region.
