In a heartwarming gesture of generosity and dedication, representatives of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in the 11th Parliament have donated a state-of-the-art dormitory to Airforce Secondary School in Entebbe.
The 200-bed facility, valued at UGX 98 million, was constructed from contributions made by the 10 UPDF legislators from their monthly salaries.
The dormitory was officially handed over to the school on Tuesday during a ceremony led by the chairperson of the UPDF caucus, Gen Wilson Mbadi, and attended by the State Minister for Defence in charge of Veteran Affairs, Hon. Huda Oleru Abason.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Huda commended the MPs for their selflessness and commitment to improving the lives of learners, particularly girls.
“I must thank you for this gesture. Girls have more special needs than boys, and by constructing this dormitory, you have addressed some of their critical challenges. This is a demonstration of generosity and kindness to the comrades you represent,” she said.
The minister also lauded the MPs for complementing the government’s efforts in enhancing education and called on other Ugandans to emulate this example for the betterment of society.
Gen Wilson Mbadi, while addressing the gathering, revealed that the MPs had resolved to create a lasting impact during their time in office.
“We decided to leave a legacy as UPDF representatives in Parliament. Each month, we contributed a flat rate from our salaries, and once we had accumulated a substantial amount, we chose to invest in education and health. This dormitory specifically targets vulnerable girls, ensuring they have a safe and conducive environment for learning,” Gen Mbadi said.
The new dormitory is expected to ease the accommodation challenges faced by the school, particularly for female students who previously lacked adequate facilities.
Maj. Nathan Ampaire, the Headmaster of Airforce Secondary School, expressed his gratitude to the UPDF MPs for their generous contribution. However, he highlighted that the school, with a population of 2,500 learners, still faces significant challenges, including a shortage of classroom blocks, a fully equipped science laboratory, a library, and a computer laboratory.