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@matookerepublic Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:36:42
VIDEO: Beautiful moment as police officer proposes to girlfriend, but a section of Ugandans questions why he did it in a police uniform
A video of a police officer proposing to his girlfriend has captured the attention of many on social media. The proposal, which took place in a public setting, saw the officer, who was fully dressed in his uniform, go down on one knee before removing the well-packed ring from his pocket. His visibly emotional girlfriend […] The post VIDEO: Beautiful moment as police officer proposes to girlfriend, but a section of Ugandans questions why he did it in a police uniform appeared first on Matooke Republic.
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:56:37
Soroti hospital records spike in number Hepatitis B patients
By Suzan Nanjala Soroti Hospital regional referral hospital administration has expressed concern over a spike in new cases of Hepatitis B registered at the facility. The coordinator emergency treatment Dr Athanasius Ariengu, currently they have over 200 patients being handled at the hepatitis B clinic which is conducted every Tuesday. He notes that due to this growing number of patients, the clinic sometimes runs short of drugs, affecting patient viral load suppression. Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For most people, hepatitis B is short term, also called acute, and lasts less than six months. But for others, the infection becomes chronic, meaning it lasts more than six months. According to health […]
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:16:54
Over Shs4.5Bn earmarked to benefit 8,000 unemployed youth
As the government continues to look for various opportunities to create employment for the youth, MTN-Uganda has earmarked over Shs.4.5 billion for 150 business starts-ups. The telecom company’s Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge, says the investment targets to benefit over 8,000 across the country. She says the two-year project will be implemented through the MTN-Ace a youth-centered economic empowerment program designed for fresh graduates, as well as innovators. “In this second phase we will set up four regional ICT and innovation hubs in the main national public university across the country, outside the radius of Kampala, Starting off with Makerere – kampala, Gulu – north, kabale – west and Busitema university in the east,” Mulinge added.
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:40:33
NRM CEC rejects proposed list of sessional committee members
By Winfred Watenya In what is seen as a significant political shake-up, President Museveni has ordered the replacement of all parliamentary committee chairpersons affiliated with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). This is after during a meeting chaired by the President at State House Entebbe last evening, the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) unanimously resolved to appoint new members to the various sessional committees. However, the appointment of the parliamentary leadership of the ruling NRM party has been deferred for two weeks to ensure transparency. As a result, parliament has adjourned once again due to the delayed approval of the parliamentary leadership by the NRM CEC. Only the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of committees who were appointed last year have […]
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:43:43
Meeting between president Museveni and traders postponed
By Winfred Watenya The meeting between President Museveni and city traders which was scheduled to take place on June 20th, 2024 has been postponed. This was revealed by the leaders of traders following a meeting with the President held at State House, Entebbe yesterday. The Chairperson of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), Dr. Thadeus Musoke and John Kabanda, the Chairman of the Federation of Uganda’s Traders Associations (FUTA) said in a joint statement that they have agreed with President Museveni to reschedule the meeting that was meant to take place this Thursday at Kololo Ceremonial grounds to July 31st, 2024. According to a press statement issued by State House, the postponement is also to allow both sides do thorough research […]
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:49:44
New study links air pollution to 7,000 deaths in Kampala in past 4 years
A new study has linked air pollution to the deaths of more 7,200 people in Kampala over the last 4 years. The study conducted by the Makerere University School of Public Health indicates that the rapid urban growth, burning of biomass and solid waste, unpaved sections of the road network, and rising numbers of vehicles, some with highly polluting engines, contribute to the poor air quality in the city. This study is the first to estimate deaths in Kampala caused by air pollution, using the World Health Organisation guidelines as a benchmark. The findings also show that air pollution levels in Kampala are above the safe limit, likely leading to significant health issues and early deaths. The report also highlighted […]
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@kfm Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:51:26
URA, academics partner to sensitize traders on EFRIS
The Uganda Revenue Authority has partnered with various tax experts, including those in academia to sensitize traders on the controversial Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) that led to a recent standoff between the tax man and the business community. The authority’s Assistant Commissioner of Public and Corporate Affairs Ibrahim Bossa has welcomed the move, saying it will go a long way in boosting tax education among members of the public. “As an authority we prayed I being able to meet and dialogue with our stake holders, a stake holder dialogue is part and passo of revenue mobilisation, so we think that this is a very powerful platform that can enable the URA but also our stakeholders to discus […]
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@matookerepublic Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:39:16
“I cannot share a man,” singer Karole Kasita reveals why
Men choosing to marry more than one woman is common in Uganda, but singer Karole Kasita has said that she cannot accept being a co-wife. Speaking in an interview, the ‘Onkubya Yaka’ singer said that though she’s not against those who settle for being in a polygamous relationship, she is too jealous to be in […] The post “I cannot share a man,” singer Karole Kasita reveals why appeared first on Matooke Republic.
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@matookerepublic Wed, 19 Jun 2024 05:45:20
Brigadier Mugabe to serve third term as court martial chairperson
Brigadier Freeman Robert Mugabe has been reappointed as Chairperson of the General Court Martial. Brigadier Mugabe’s contract, which expired on June 9, was renewed last Thursday, according to a letter from President Yoweri Museveni dated June 6, 2024. Brigadier Mugabe, who first assumed the role in 2022, succeeded Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, who served six […] The post Brigadier Mugabe to serve third term as court martial chairperson appeared first on Matooke Republic.
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@allafrica Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:52:11
Evangelist Gary Skinner Asks Religious Leaders to Fight Corruption
[Nile Post] Renowned evangelist Gary Skinner has asked religious leaders to make the fight against corruption and moral decay their gospel, saying the two vices are impediments to development of the nation.
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@allafrica Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:53:18
Ssekikubo Suspends Deadline in Hunt for Eight More Signatures
[Nile Post] The movers and seconders of the motion seeking to impeach four Commissioners of Parliament have now declared the process timeline open-ended, saying they will run the desk until they realise the required number to have the motion on the floor of Parliament.
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@observer Wed, 19 Jun 2024 03:07:35
EC chair to voters: Don’t feel intimidated by soldiers
As the country prepares for the 2026 general elections, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, has reassured Ugandans not to feel intimidated by the presence of the military during elections. Instead, he urges them to appreciate the military’s role in upholding peace and security during the electoral process. This statement was made during a media interview after the chairman attended the IGAD Youth Symposium organized at Makerere University. Justice Byabakama explained that the constitution allows the police to call for the deployment of other security organs during elections if necessary. “In Uganda, you can’t hold elections without using the security organs, that’s why we always use the police. However, the constitution allows the police to use other enforcement as they are doing their work, but we as the commission always caution them to follow the law as they do their work,” he said. He also mentioned that the commission frequently receives complaints about military involvement in elections, often overtaking the work of the Electoral Commission. However, he urged people to provide evidence so that these cases can be followed up. Concerns about army brutality and vote rigging during elections have been raised by Ugandans in the past. For instance, during the Oyam by-election last year, unidentified individuals suspected to be from the military allegedly attacked Wang Lobo polling station, resulting in disorder and confusion. Eyewitnesses reported that armed men held the presiding officer at gunpoint and pre-ticked five booklets containing 250 ballots.Byabakama emphasized that such incidents are against the law and those involved should be investigated and charged individually. He advised Ugandans to respect the roles of security services, abide by the regulations issued by the commission regarding the conduct of elections, and not fear the military. “People shouldn’t fear the military because they are our sons, daughters, and fellow Ugandans. If you have done nothing wrong, there is no need to fear the army or the police because they are there to carry out their constitutional duties,” he said.He also promised to facilitate a dialogue between political parties and security organs to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate episodes during elections. Furthermore, Byabakama updated the public on the Electoral Commission’s upcoming election roadmap, which was released last year. The commission will begin with the demarcation of electoral areas and the reorganization of polling stations next month, following the allocation of funds in the recently released budget for the financial year 2024/2025.IGAD, EC FORUMByabakama also spoke at the main event organized by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with the Electoral Commission and the National Youth Council. The event, held at Makerere University, aimed to empower youth leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard peace and security during elections in Uganda. According to available statistics, the youth constitute about 70 per cent of the population, and as of April 2024, registered voters aged 18 to 30 numbered 5,884,375 out of a total of 18,511,600 registered voters. This number is expected to rise when the Electoral Commission updates the National Voter’s Register in January 2025, highlighting the pivotal role the youth play in Uganda’s politics and the need for their sensitization to make informed decisions.In his speech, the chief guest Justice Byabakama, chairperson of the Electoral Commission, emphasized the importance of youth participation in Uganda’s affairs, recognizing the demographic majority that young people represent in the country and across Africa. He underscored the need to harness the energy, vibrancy, enthusiasm, creativity, and innovativeness of the youth to contribute meaningfully to democratic development and socio-economic transformation. Byabakama stressed the importance of enhancing youth engagement in the electoral process in a constructive manner. “Youth participation not only positively impacts democratic governance and socio-economic development but also expands the democratic space, fosters inclusivity, and brings forth the boundless potential of young individuals into political and governance processes,” he said.Furthermore, he expressed concern about the phenomenon of the commercialization of elections, highlighting the detrimental effects it has on the democratic process in Uganda. Byabakama mentioned the alarming trend where individuals aspiring for political office are required to possess significant financial resources, often ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of shillings, to fund their campaigns and secure victory. “I am told that someone attempting to contest for parliament must have a sack of between Shs 500 million and 1 billion. This rapid commercialization of politics is a deterrent for the youth. Where will they get the 500 million? And secondly, what caliber of leader are you going to choose, and is our democracy now to the highest bidder?” he said.He called for a collective effort to address this issue and urged the youth to denounce the practice of buying and selling political influence. He stressed the importance of sensitizing young people about government initiatives aimed at addressing economic challenges, which often lead to feelings of anger, bitterness, and a lack of appreciation among the youth.Counsel Innocent Ndahirwe, one of the keynote speakers, highlighted the need to recognize and reward the efforts of young individuals who have made significant progress in ensuring a peaceful electoral process and a stable future for Uganda. He acknowledged the contributions of various organizations and entities, such as the Electoral Commission, the National Youth Council, and the IGAD Youth Forum for Peace, in fostering proactive youth engagement and participation in conflict prevention and peace-building efforts at both national and regional levels. “IGAD, collaborating with various programs, contributes to the development of strategies that engage young people in economic, social, and political spheres,” he said.Dr. Mercy Kobusigye, serving as the leader of the IGAD Youth Forum for Peace, Uganda chapter, stated that the establishment of the Youth Forum for Peace is a regional platform aimed at giving youth a voice in decision-making processes and mobilizing them for peace initiatives at national and regional levels. This platform inspires youth to be change-makers and promotes social cohesion and development agendas within their countries. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Wed, 19 Jun 2024 03:18:38
MPs extortion: Museveni warned Namujju in 2023
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was aware a year ago that members of parliament were extorting money from government agencies and ministries. Speaking to The Observer, MPs with direct knowledge on the subject said Museveni had previously warned MPs against this practice in meetings. One such meeting occurred late last year when Museveni met selected National Resistance Movement MPs to rally support for the Petroleum Supply Amendment Bill 2023, which would allow the government, through the Uganda National Oil Company, to buy fuel directly from Kenya to eliminate middlemen.Two MPs who were briefed about that meeting, but asked not to be named, said Museveni entered the room where the meeting was taking place and, before saying anything, first scolded them against racketeering. “Before he even greeted us, he said, ‘You people, you are extorting money from agencies; Cissy [referring to Lwengo Woman MP Namujju] are you hearing, Cissy are you hearing.’ At that time, he spoke like a person who had knowledge about what he was talking about,” one MP said.This development comes just a week after the arrest and charging of three Members of Parliament for allegedly attempting to extort close to Shs 12 billion from the chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, to pass the Shs 58 billion Commission budget. According to the charge sheet, Cissy Namujju, the Woman MP for Lwengo district, Paul Akamba, the MP for Busiki County, and Yusuf Mutembuli, the MP for Busiki County, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, asked Wangadya for at least 20 per cent of the Shs 58 billion commission’s budget to be passed by Parliament.However, the MPs we spoke to for this story said that by last year, Museveni had already expressed his disapproval of the conduct of at least Namujju. This explains why Namujju was removed from the budget committee at the end of last year. “Museveni is the one who told Hamson Obua [Government Chief Whip] to remove Namujju from the budget committee,” an MP said.Two MPs who are also members of the budget committee stated that although most allegations of corruption and extortion have been directed towards it, the committee is just at the tail end because of the nature of its work.“The Budget Committee receives reports from other committees of parliament that first directly deal with these government agencies. Therefore, if anybody wants to bribe an MP, they first bribe those whose committees directly handle their budgets because we mainly handle reports from these committees,” the MP explained.He, however, admitted that despite this working arrangement, the budget committee is one of the most sought-after committees. “Of course, it is a very attractive committee because it has a real impact on how the money is distributed. So many MPs would want to be part of it,” the MP said.Other committees that MPs are eager to join because of their lucrative nature include the committee on physical infrastructure, the committee on finance, and the committee on natural resources, among others. These committees handle agencies and ministries with very large budgets or those performing functions that have a direct impact on communities.“It is normal for MPs to ask for money from agencies or other things like seedlings, roads, hospitals, and schools. There are committees that are ‘wet’ and those that are ‘dry,’ where you can influence something from an agency for your constituency; here every MP would like to be on such a committee,” the MP said.HOW THE RACKETEERING WORKSMPs are able to extort money from agencies and ministries under the pretext of helping them reallocate funds to their unfunded priorities. Almost every budget the government presents to parliament contains areas that ministries identify as crucial but are left unfunded due to a lack of funds. When these agencies appear before parliament to defend their budgets, they appeal to the MPs to reallocate money so these unfunded priorities can also be financed. It is at this point that MPs ask for their cut to reallocate money to these areas.“If they want to improve this process, they should remove the item called unfunded priorities. Because it’s after they include that, that these agencies come to parliament to plead for additional funds. The moment you come to parliament begging for your budget to be increased, it means you believe parliament has the power to change the budget despite what the President claims,” the MP said.Another MP confirmed that MPs like Namujju often broker deals with agencies to ensure they receive funding. “If the president wants to fight corruption in parliament, all allocations should be done at the cabinet level, leaving no room for unfunded priorities. But if this practice continues, arresting one broker like Namujju today will only lead to another, more sophisticated broker emerging, whom you might not be able to arrest,” the MP added.In the past, President Museveni has been very critical of parliament for what he termed “tampering with my budget.” During meetings with MPs, the president even suggested that they have no power under the law to change the budget. However, he has been informed by lawyers that since the budget goes to parliament as an Appropriation Bill, MPs indeed have the power to amend it, just like any other bill. During this year’s budgeting process, sources have informed this newspaper that the President has held back-to-back meetings with the leadership of parliament, the chief justice, and officials from the ministry of Finance. In these meetings, amendments to the budget were agreed upon before being sent to parliament for approval.The current push by the president to punish corrupt MPs and officials at the ministry of Finance, whom he called out during the State of the Nation Address, has created panic among Members of Parliament. The extent of the president’s commitment to this cause is uncertain, as previous vows have resulted in very little or no action at all. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:53:53
Ggoobi defends govt plan to borrow more money
Ramathan Ggoobi, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, revealed that the increased domestic borrowing is aimed at financial stability and funding development programs. Ggoobi was speaking at the post-budget dialogue organised by Absa Bank, Deloitte, among other private sector players recently. According to the 2024/2025 budget, government will borrow Shs 8.968 trillion from the domestic market compared to Shs 3.2 trillion acquired in the current financial year that climaxes at the end of June. The ministry of Finance indicates that Uganda’s total public debt stood at Shs 93.38 trillion ($24.69 billion). External debt was Shs 55.37 trillion ($14.64 billion), while domestic debt was Shs 38.01 trillion (Shs 10.05 billion). The public debt is projected at Shs 97.638 trillion, equivalent to $25.716 billion by June 30, 2024. “We are going to borrow Shs 9 trillion. Some people were saying, it is not that much money that the government is taking. No, we don’t just say, let us borrow this; we first model and find out how much we have in the domestic market,” Ggoobi said. He noted that “commercial banks have Shs 27 trillion. They are sitting on a mountain of money. I don’t know why they don’t want to lend to you at the rate of Uganda Development Bank.” He added: “If we don’t enter that market, most of the commercial banks or our financial sector will be in trouble. So, we are taking this money from a balanced point of view; we are mindful of the crowd-out effect. We don’t want a financial crowd-out. Therefore, we take excess money from the market,” he noted. Mumba Kalifungwa, the managing director of Absa Bank Uganda, said the financial year 2024/25 national budget represents a crucial milestone in Uganda’s economic development, setting the tone for fiscal policy and outlining the government’s revenue and expenditure priorities for the coming year. Mumba commended the government for its commitment towards driving economic growth and fostering an environment that supports sustainable development. Uganda’s economy has remained resilient and is projected to grow at 6 per cent, albeit with a slow-down in quarter-on-quarter growth. “From a global perspective, uncertainty remains about the impact of geopolitics, international commodity prices, weaker global growth, global inflation, and monetary policy responses on our economy,” he said. He emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in driving Uganda’s economic growth. Together, we can create an enabling environment for economic growth, innovation, and financial inclusion. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:32:31
Mathias Mpuuga: a model of resilience?
On Heroes day, via Space on X hosted by Yuliana Namubiru and attended by 193,000 listeners, Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba faced off with an angry crowd of his digital critics and emerged as a model of resilience. Lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde listened in and summarized the discussion between the former Leader of the Opposition (LOP) and activists Dr Jimmy Ssentongo and Sam Mugumya. Whereas the topic of the discussion was “Leadership Ethics, Accountability and Conflict of Interest”, its specific backdrop was Mpuuga’s illustrious career, right from his campus days (1995-1997) under the auspices of Democratic Party’s youth wing, the Uganda Young Democrats, and of the Nkomba Za Mbogo Youth Club which catapulted him into Buganda kingdom’s “Great Lukiiko” in his second year at Makerere University and later into the Kabaka’s government as Youth minister in 2008. He was granted leave to pivot into elective politics where he has served as the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe municipality in Masaka district from 2011 to date. Thanks to the conversational acuity of the host and relentless probing of her eminent speakers’ panel and several listeners who chimed in, the discussion surveyed the legal, ethical, moral, political, socio-economic, and even psychological implications of the talk of town: the “Service Award” allegedly appropriated by the parliamentary commission to Mpuuga (Shs 500m) as the former LOP and three NRM commissioners (Shs 400m each). Clearly fed up of what he called a “public lynch mob” and a continuing distortion of the issues by “self-seekers who are out to get me”, Mpuuga welcomed the discussion and expressed enthusiasm for further “inquests” by parliament where a putative motion for his impeachment from the parliament commission is underway, and by the judiciary where putative civil and criminal cases have been filed against him and the parliamentary commission. The legislator decried the lack of similar decorum and respect for due process by Robert Kyagulanyi (aka Bobi Wine), his archrival in the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party, who he accused of impulsively kicking off a campaign of calumny and intraparty skirmishes against him, before seeking the necessary clarifications about the service award from the parliamentary commission and parliament. “THE CONTEXT MATTERS” Citing the limitations of the sub judice rule, the 48-year-old advocate of the High court sparsely commented on the service award. He urged listeners to appreciate that it was not his personal initiative to solicit a service award, but rather the matter had been on the radar of both parliament and the parliamentary commission long before he joined the latter body as the LOP on May 24, 2021. Under the terms of section 6 of the Administration of Parliament Act, which came into force on August 15, 1997, the parliamentary commission is, empowered “(f ) to cause to be prepared in each financial year estimates of revenues and expenditure for parliament for the next financial year; (g) to make recommendations to parliament on or, with the approval of parliament, determine the allowances payable and privileges available to the speaker, deputy speaker and members of parliament; and (h) to do such other things as may be necessary for the well-being of the members and staff of parliament.” The commission was elevated to a constitutional body by the insertion of article 87A via the second amendment of the 1995 Constitution on September 30, 2005. By the insertion of articles 82A and 108A, the second amendment re-established the rival offices of LOP and prime minister respectively—after a 20-year hiatus—as part of the reforms to engender the multiparty form of democracy. Consequently, these reforms caused an amendment of the Administration of Parliament Act of 1997 on August 4, 2006 to make the constitutionally mandated provisions for “(a) how [the LOP] is chosen and how [the LOP] ceases to hold that office; (b) his or her status; (c) his or her role and functions; and (d) the benefits and privileges attached to his or her office.” Speaking from some knowledge, the veteran legislator explained that while parliament had since 2010 progressively provided for the emoluments and benefits of a retired president, vice president, prime minister, speaker, deputy speaker, and of judicial officers as the national revenue increased, it was a self-evident “anomaly” that the basic constitutionally mandated rights of the LOP had been improperly sidelined yet it was also a constitutional office equivalent to that of the prime minister. “We are all leaders of the two divisions of parliament: prime minister is the team leader of the government side while LOP is the team leader of the opposition side,” urged Mpuuga, before highlighting a nuanced and much-ignored breach of equal opportunities in a multiparty dispensation. “The LOP and the prime minister perform the same coordination functions and the argument could be made that they should receive the same emoluments and benefits, even on retirement.” It is against this context that the leadership of the 11th parliament decided to address this historic complaint of marginalization in the inaugural session of the parliamentary commission, which is the appropriate organ to make feasible recommendations to parliament regarding the retirement “allowances payable and privileges available” to the previously disregarded parliamentary leadership offices that were introduced by the second amendment, and “to cause to be prepared in each financial year estimates of revenues and expenditure for parliament for the next financial year.” “Parliament had to figure out in advance a framework that would begin to curb this discriminative situation before the termination of the two-and-a-half-year mandate of the sitting LOP in December, 2023...The details or nitty gritty were handled by management and in the relevant committees.” On the whole, Mpuuga rejected social media charges of “corruption, abuse or misuse of power, and conflict of interest” or other criminal wrongdoing as the intolerant views of some members of the chattering classes who are not familiar with the intricate business of parliamentary budgeting as laid down in the relevant legal instruments and parliamentary conventions and traditions. The former “Walk to Work” protest coordinator concluded with a suggestion that instead of “incubating anarchy” and “inciting public anger or animosity” unreasonably against him and other leaders of parliament who had been singled out for censure, an appropriate “inquest” for the benefit of every public-spirited citizen would thoroughly probe the rationality of the retirement policy in place for all leaders, without being distracted by the opportunists who had hijacked the #Uganda ParliamentExhibition citizens’ initiative for purposes of settling old scores with their rivals.The author is the CEO Legal Brains Trust, a Kampala-based democracy and human rights watchdog. {loadposition inarticle}
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@observer Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:25:23
More parents shun nursery education due to high fees
Parents, teachers, and government officials have identified fees as a critical barrier to accessing nursery education in rural and low-income earning families. Whereas the government underscores the benefits of pre-primary education, it does not fund this level of education but facilitates a department that oversees nursery schools across the country, writes YUDAYA NANGONZI. When 14-year-old Kevin Sseddungu was called to the front to share his experience of pre-primary education, he looked anxious and nervous. A primary five pupil at Nsambwe C/U Primary School Mukono, his voice was shaky when he began to speak. “I greet you in the name of our Lord,” Sseddungu said, before requesting to speak in Luganda because “it is the language I know better.” An applause from the audience reassured him and his voice grew stronger. Sseddungu didn’t attend nursery school. He started primary one at age 10 as his father and grandmother didn’t have the money to send him to school early.“When I joined P1, our teacher grouped us; those who studied or missed nursery sat in different rows [for easy follow-up on learners by teachers]. I find challenges with the spellings of English words, and I don’t perform well in class. My friends who studied nursery also find challenges [in spellings] but not as much as me,” he said, sending the audience in silence.In contrast, Mark Waidhuba, a P6 learner at Kitante PS in Kampala, came with a written speech in English prepared by him for the day. He spoke with confidence and strong command of the English Language for at least five minutes.“I can write and spell many words – thanks to my nursery foundation. I speak confidently when given any opportunity at any platform,” Waidhuba said.The two learners met at the launch of a report on access to pre-primary or nursery education held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala last week. Titled “Lay a Strong Foundation for All Children” Fees as a Discriminatory Barrier to Pre-Primary Education in Uganda, the report is a collaboration between the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) and the Human Rights Watch (HRW).The research, conducted between July 2022 and January 2024, involved 102 interviews with children aged eight to 17, parents, guardians, teachers, and government officials in Kampala, Omoro, Nakapiripirit, and Namayingo districts.According to the executive director of ISER, Angella Kasule Nabwowe, the experiences of Sseddungu and Waidhuba depict the enormous benefits of pre-primary learning with a high chance of mitigating income inequalities among children from families of different incomes.For many parents, the joy of watching their three to five-year-olds take their first steps into formal education has been tempered by the daunting reality of nursery school expenses. The latest research suggests that nursery fees have surged radically, with some schools in Kampala charging Shs 1.75m per term – almost comparable to an Engineering degree or higher than most arts courses at Makerere University. This academic year 2024/25, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering costs Shs 1.7m for Africans and Shs 2.7m for international students per semester.“It’s striking that parents spend more money at the lower levels than at university. Whereas some parents may afford this money, other parents are not given government alternatives to educate their children at the lower level. Every child has a right to education whether their parents can afford it or not,” Nabwowe said.FINDINGSNabwowe said pre-primary learning has long been lauded for its benefits such as better preparedness for primary, improved social skills, and enhanced cognitive development. However, these benefits come at a steep price.“Less than one in 10 children aged three to five study from a licensed pre-primary school. Sixty per cent of children who are supposed to be enrolled for pre-school are not attending school. Children who miss out on these foundational skills are likely to repeat P1 and may never catch up to their peers who attended nursery schools,” reads the report. During field visits, some schools implementing UPE had set up ramshackle structures to teach nursery learners following complaints from P1 teachers that learners come ill-prepared while others are underage for primary. Due to high preschool fees, parents opted for early enrolment in primary one which has created overcrowded classes, exacerbated inefficiencies in education, and increased repetition rates.A grandmother who sells groceries at a Kampala market told researchers that she pays fees for her five-year-old grandchild but will send her younger sibling when she gets the money.“... I take them to study nursery at five years for one year and go to P1 because their mother does not have money. I cannot afford to pay for three years. If there was free pre-primary, I would enroll them at three years,” she said.A mother of six in Omoro who works as a subsistence farmer said: “I always struggle to find money. Some of my children did not finish all the levels because I could not afford fees for every term.” Other parents discontinued their children from preschool due to financial constraints while others lacked a school in their area. In rural areas, some schools may require the provision of food and other items. For instance in Omoro, one parent said she pays Shs 85,000 per term, and provides the school with 20kgs of maize four, 10kgs of beans, and 4kgs of rice. In Nakapiripirit, a parent provides 1kg of sugar per child. The report concluded that even if some parents and guardians can initially afford to enroll their children in preschools, fees may become unaffordable if the parent’s income is not steady or predictable. The result is an interrupted education in the early years, a key period for children to benefit most from continuous immersion in early learning.RECOMMENDATIONSResearchers urged the ministry and parliament to amend Section 10 (2) of the Education Act, 2008 to obligate the government to fund and implement universal pre-primary education. Currently, the Act stipulates that financing of pre-primary shall be the responsibility of the parents or guardians. The government should also make at least one year of free and compulsory pre-primary education for all children, with a plan to include additional years over time. This is in addition to regulating preschool fees to increase child access.“Children’s access to pre-primary education should not depend on their parent’s ability or willingness to pay fees. All children should have access to education at this critical point in their lives and be able to reap its lifelong benefits,” reads the report. The director of Basic and Secondary Education, Ismael Mulindwa, launches the report in Kampala last week It further highlighted that multiple analyses have found that Uganda can secure adequate resources for the education sector by wideningits tax base, improving compliance with existing tax laws, revisiting tax exemptions, and curbing illicit financial flows and corruption, among others.Jo Becker, a Child Rights Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch, argued that global targets indicate that governments must invest at least 15% of their national budget but Uganda is not committing half of this. For this Financial Year 2024/25, the education sector has been allocated Shs 2.497tn out of the Shs 72tn budget.“Sierra Leone has a compelling story. It is one of the poorest countries with its GDP being half of Uganda’s but they are devoting more than 20% of the national budget to education compared to Uganda at 8%. If a poor country like Sierra Leone can invest in educating its children, I believe Uganda can do so,” she said.The ministry should ensure that all nursery schools have a unified curriculum, licensed, registered, and regularly monitored to ensure compliance with standards. In 2019, there were 28,194 privately owned pre-schools in Uganda with at least two million children. The only government-funded pre-primary school is based at the School of Education at Makerere University but is meant for children of the university staff. As the quest for free pre-primary education continues, the divide in learning is evident among Sseddungu and Waidhuba with far-reaching implications in the education sector. Ministry speaksThe state minister for Primary Education, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, who released the report, commended the researchers for highlighting the exorbitant fees charged by private providers in pre-primary schools.In a speech read on her behalf by the director of Basic and Secondary Education at the ministry, Ismael Mulindwa, the minister noted that the commitment by the government to regulate nursery school has, to some extent, seen more children access quality learning. However, the ministry is still grappling with limited access to nursery schools in rural areas.“The pace of brain development is at highest in this first stage of learning which presents a big opportunity to create a positive difference in children’s lives. Nursery education is not only beneficial to the learners but the country at large,” Kaducu said.She pledged to table the report findings and recommendations for discussion in the ministry’s senior management meetings.“It may take some time to debate the recommendations by the ministry and cabinet but we shall give the researchers feedback,” she said.nangonzi@observer.ug {loadposition inarticle}
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