President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated the need for free education as a means to tackle the high dropout rates among Ugandan children, particularly at the primary level.
Addressing leaders from the Bunyoro sub-region on Thursday, the President warned that the country’s development efforts could be at risk if education remains inaccessible to many young Ugandans.
Museveni, who met with the leaders after receiving their Memorandum, advised them to align their development plans with the resources available in their respective areas. He reaffirmed that government-backed programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga were critical in ensuring socio-economic transformation.
However his remarks on free education come amid growing concerns over school dropouts, which experts attribute to factors such as poverty, child labor, and limited access to quality education. While Uganda has implemented Universal Primary and Secondary Education, challenges like hidden school costs and inadequate infrastructure continue to hinder full enrollment and retention.
“Now, we need to address the issue of free education. We are at risk due to the high dropout rates among our children, right from primary school. While several strategies may make developmental sense, I strongly believe that free education for all, PDM, and the Emyooga are critical programs for achieving socio-economic transformation. These initiatives involve everyone and can drive progress for our society.” he said
In another development, the President linked the country’s resilience and progress to discipline and sacrifice, referencing his own experience in the army. He recounted how, during the liberation struggle against Idi Amin, Ugandan forces fought for 16 years without pay, relying only on support from allies like Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere.
“Having been in the army for 54 years since 1971, we often worked for little or no pay. During our fight against Amin, we asked Nyerere for guns only. If we had asked for salaries, where would he have found the money?” Museveni noted, emphasizing the need for commitment to national progress.
