President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched the construction of Bunyoro University, emphasizing the need for free education and household economic empowerment to ensure local children benefit from higher education.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Kikuube District on March 19, 2025, President Museveni urged leaders to enforce Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) to prevent school dropouts, especially among children from low-income families.
“Insist on free education for children in government schools and implement it. The rich can take their children to private schools, but those from poor families should have no excuse for dropping out,” he said.
Education and Poverty Eradication
President Museveni warned that without free education and economic empowerment, many local children may not qualify for Bunyoro University.
“If families are still poor, children will drop out of school. If they drop out, who will attend this university? You will find students from other regions because local children didn’t complete primary or secondary education. A university is not a marketplace; you must go through the education system to qualify,” he said.
He noted that even with government scholarships, only a small number of students benefit, making it essential for families to support their children’s education.
“Even where free education has been implemented, only a limited number of high-performing students receive government sponsorship. The rest rely on family support, which means we must focus on developing homesteads economically,” he explained.
Prioritizing Job-Oriented Courses
The President advised university planners to offer courses that guarantee employment. He cited the successful establishment of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, which started with medicine to ensure graduates had job opportunities.
“A medical doctor cannot fail to get a job, whether here or abroad. That is why we started Mbarara University with medicine before adding science education and ICT,” he said.
He cautioned against offering courses that provide limited employment prospects, especially for students from peasant backgrounds.
“It’s unfair to educate a child from a poor family in conflict resolution while others pursue fields that guarantee employment. Be careful about the courses you recommend for our children,” he advised.
Expanding Public Universities
President Museveni recalled that when the NRM government came to power, Uganda had only one public university, Makerere, which produced just 80 doctors annually.
“According to the WHO, one doctor should serve 500 people. With Uganda’s population at 46 million, we need more doctors,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing a public university in each of Uganda’s 18 zones, saying the economy has grown, allowing for more investment in education.
“Some people claim that NRM has forgotten them, but they don’t understand prioritization. When we were fighting, we knew what to handle first. Today, because the economy has grown, we are addressing more issues, including expanding public universities,” he noted.
He assured Bunyoro residents that with petroleum revenues expected next year, more development projects would be implemented.
“The concept of public universities is mine, and we shall continue expanding,” he emphasized.
Leaders Welcome Bunyoro University
The Chairperson of the Bunyoro University Task Force, Professor Samuel Kyamanywa, described the university as a game-changer for the sub-region, offering long-awaited higher education opportunities.
Kikuube District LC5 Chairperson, Peter Banura, called for unity among Bunyoro leaders and urged them to support government interventions regardless of personal differences.
President Museveni concluded by appreciating First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, for her dedication to managing Uganda’s education sector.
The establishment of Bunyoro University marks a significant milestone in the government’s expansion of public universities to improve access to higher education across Uganda.
