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President Yoweri Museveni has called on Ugandans to support the government’s initiative to provide free education in all government schools. He emphasized the need for affordable day schools and the elimination of fees to reduce school dropout rates. First Lady Janet Museveni also praised the Mothers Union for their efforts in promoting family and Christian values.

President Yoweri Museveni has once again urged Ugandans to support the government’s initiative of providing free education in all government schools. Speaking at the closure of the Mothers Union Buganda conference held at Timnah Schools in Luwero District on 1st September 2024, President Museveni noted that many stakeholders have yet to fully embrace this strategy and called for concerted efforts to ensure its successful implementation.

“Our objective was to make education affordable for all Ugandans. In the past, there were only a limited number of elite schools, where fees were required even at the primary level, while the government covered university costs,” stated President Museveni. He was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.

The President emphasized the necessity of transitioning from expensive boarding schools to more affordable day schools at both primary and secondary levels, to minimize costs related to accommodation, meals, and utilities. He stated that the government should prioritize building essential infrastructure such as classrooms, libraries, science laboratories, and housing for teachers, leaving parents responsible only for uniforms and lunch.

He further highlighted that eliminating fees in government schools is essential to reducing school dropouts. Currently, out of 11 million children enrolled in primary schools, only 2 million proceed to secondary education. President Museveni argued that focusing on Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) through day schools would enable the government to provide quality education at an affordable cost.

Additionally, the President commended the Mothers Union for their commitment to Christian values and their role in transforming families and communities. He encouraged the Union to prioritize their needs and pledged government support, including the provision of a bus and UGX 500 million for their projects.

Meanwhile, the First Lady, Janet Museveni, applauded the women for organizing a successful conference and highlighted their vital role in building stable families and raising children with Christian values. She urged mothers to lead efforts in ensuring free education for all children in government schools.

The four-day conference brought together women from six dioceses in the Buganda region and focused on topics such as health, entrepreneurship, and agricultural skills. The event also featured a health camp offering breast and cervical cancer screenings and general health check-ups for the community.