By Adam Bukenya | Thursday, April 17, 2025

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni continues to express anger with individuals who are failing to implement the government’s policy of free education across the country, urging officials at all levels to guarantee that the program is completely implemented.

“I do not want to employ force in this case. Discuss the concept of free education in government schools, especially technical schools. If we need to increase funding for government schools, we would do so,” President Museveni stated.

The President made the statements today when launching the Greater Mubende Presidential Zonal Skill Hub in Kibuye-Vuga Village, Kitenga Sub County, Mubende District.

President Museveni, who is in the region on a routine tour of wealth creation activities and the Parish Development Model (PDM), stated that despite policies for Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) outlined in the 1996 NRM manifesto, many schools continue to charge fees, preventing full access to education, particularly for students from low-income families.

“In the 1996 NRM manifesto, we proposed providing free education. However, you refused to execute it, and primary and secondary schools continue to levy fees. But we understood that doing so would result in the exclusion of impoverished children, which is exactly what is happening. Because if you look even here, you may find the data for children who complete secondary education. How many people progress from Primary 7 to Senior 6?” the President inquired.

“There are seven (7) years of elementary school and six (6) years of secondary school, yet the data I have for primary schools are 11 million children and those for high schools are 2 million, and the years are nearly identical. So, what happened to the nine million? “It is the refusal to implement UPE and USE,” he said.

According to the President, he decided to launch free education through skilling hubs to demonstrate to the people that free education is possible and can be extremely productive, citing the testimony of adolescents who are self-employed after gaining skills.

“Those who impose charges at government schools may not go to paradise. Discuss among yourselves and agree to free education in government schools,” the President said, adding that while his initiative of regional skilling hubs is producing results, it is more expensive than implementing free education for all children in government primary, secondary, and technical schools.

“That was a calculated and cost-effective strategy for achieving universal education. However, this facility serves five (5) districts, and the students come from a long distance away. So I have to accommodate them, feed them, and all that. But UPE’s goal is for day schools. That means a primary school every parish and a government secondary school per subcounty, where youngsters can come to study and then return home rather than attending school in boarding sections,” he explained.

The President went on to explain that this would allow the government to focus on paying teachers, establishing classrooms and laboratories, building teachers’ homes, and providing textbooks for all Ugandan pupils.

Meanwhile, President Museveni has vowed to add more courses to the skilling hub, including plumbing, motor mechanics, weaving, and textiles.

“Now, the children are manufacturing shoes for us. We used to import shoes from China, as you might imagine! We are now going to add those skills,” he said, thanking the pupils for being creative and innovative in putting their acquired skills into practice.

Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, advised the President that the hub is critical to the region’s ability to train young people who can now work for themselves.

“Many have been hired, but others still require your assistance. Minister Nabakooba stated that the skilling hub has also addressed domestic violence in homes, as both husband and wife labor to put food on the table.

The President, on the other hand, handed 10 million shillings to Mr. Kisekka Ronald, Ms. Conatance Twinomugisha, and Mr. Mawejje Willy, all former pupils who went on to start their own enterprises and are now employing others in carpentry, baking, and hairdressing.

Earlier, Mr. Kisekka from Mityana district informed the President that he had given up on life and could not be accommodated by any of his family members, but after six (6) months at the hub, he learned carpentry skills.

“I called Kampala seeking a job and was admitted. I would have died if not for President Museveni. Mr. Kisekka stated, “I have bought a cow for my father, and I also support him financially.”

Ms. Twinomugisha, who is from Mubende Municipality, learned how to bake and, after finishing, she launched a little business named Gloria Sweet Bakery with 20,000 shillings, and she currently manufactures cakes ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 shillings. Her baking company pays her 80,000 shillings a day.

“I call upon my fellow youths not to lose hope but come to Mubende Zonal Industrial Hub and get skilled for free,” says Ms. Twinomugisha.

Mr. Mawejje, one of the skilling hub’s pioneers, informed the President that his hairdressing abilities had won him a job in Kampala as a salon manager.

“I’m now starting Willy Barber Salon because I have the qualifications, and I know what I’m doing,” he told me.

During the same ceremony, Mr. Baganyire Joseph, the registrar of the National Unity Platform (NUP) political party for the Kitenga sub-country, formally joined the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“I opted to join NRM because it has kept its promises and provided us with a solid foundation on which to fight. Mr. Baganyire promised President Museveni, “Come 2026, I’m with you, and even at my polling station, where I defeated you, the NRM will win.”

Members of Parliament, chairpersons of LC 5, and other political leaders from Greater Mubende and beyond also attended the occasion.