President Museveni has renewed his call for Ugandans to support the government’s strategy of providing free education in all government schools, emphasizing that this approach is essential for achieving affordable education for all.
Speaking at the closure of the Buganda Mothers’ Union conference at Timnah Schools in Luwero District, the President stressed the need for stakeholders to actively engage in implementing the strategy across the country.
“Our strategy was to provide affordable education for all Ugandans,” Museveni said.
“We can no longer use the old method. The biggest savings come from transitioning from boarding schools to day schools, thereby reducing costs related to accommodation, feeding, and utilities.”
President Museveni, accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, highlighted that the government’s role in this strategy involves setting up necessary infrastructure, such as classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and housing for teachers, while parents would only need to cover school uniforms and lunch.
Museveni pointed out that charging fees in government schools contributes to high dropout rates, citing that out of 11 million children in primary schools, only 2 million advance to secondary schools.
“We propose that all government schools under Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) should be day schools, allowing the government to focus on infrastructure and teacher salaries,” he added.
The President also praised the women of the Mothers’ Union for their dedication to Christian values and community development.
He applauded their efforts in preaching the gospel, working, healing the sick, and feeding the hungry, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, noting that these actions promote transformation in families, communities, and the nation.
Museveni encouraged Ugandans to adopt the government’s development programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the 4-acre farming model, aimed at increasing household incomes through diversified farming practices.
He pledged financial support of Shs500 million and a coaster bus for the Mothers’ Union to aid their community projects.
First Lady Janet Museveni congratulated the Mothers’ Union on organizing a successful conference and underscored their importance in establishing stable families.
She called on mothers to take a leading role in ensuring all children receive free education in government schools and to promote a healthy lifestyle within their communities.
The conference included a health camp focused on breast and cervical cancer screening and general health check-ups, offering essential health services to participants and the local community.
The event was marked by appreciation for the government’s efforts to improve the health sector and provide economic empowerment through agricultural skills and financial literacy.