Mutebi plans to change Uganda one child at a time

 BY MAUREEN NAKATUDDE
Brian Mutebi did what few would do. He left his stable job in the city and returned to his village to help the needy. Mutebi was an administrator at A Rocha, a conservation organisation, before returning to Singo in Mityana district. It is from here that he runs Education Development Opportunity, Uganda (EDOU).  “I saw a need in our community and made plans to address it.

EDOU offers school fees, scholastic materials, caters for children’s health and teaches children about reproductive health issues,” Mutebi says.  He believes that this world can only improve if children are educated. “If we provide education to every child, we will build a strong generation. We would have empowered the child to break the vicious cycle of poverty and opened the world to him. 

“We provide pens, books and pencils to help children achieve their dreams,” he says.  EDOU also provides counselling services to the children. We talk to them about the value of education,” Mutebi says. “This enables them to change their attitudes and concentrate in class,” he adds.

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Efrance Bukenya believes EDOU’s work will go a long way in digging her grandchildren out of poverty

MOTIVATION
Mutebi grew up in a poor family and struggled to attain an education. He lost his mother when he was only 10 years old and his father took him to live with his paternal grandmother.  When Mutebi was in S2, his grandmother could not afford the school fees so he had to stay at home. His headteacher offered to take Mutebi through high school.  Mutebi scored 21 points at A’level and was the best student in the school. He joined Makerere University onGovernment sponsorship. In 2007, Mutebi became the first graduate in his village and clan.  “Throughout my school years, no one visited me

 Even when I fell sick, there was no money at home to pay my medical bills. “I one time sold my expensive trousers at sh8,000 to have a sinus infection treated,” Mutebi says.  He had a desire to help the less fortunate. One day, while he was praying, God confirmed his desire to help the poor, and in 2008, he started EDOU.  Mutebi dreams of establishing a Brian Mutebi dream scholarship, which will help needy university students with tuition.  Mutebi works in partnership with local churches and local council chairpersons to identify needy children in the village.

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Excited children trying on shoes for the first time

 EDOU is an answered prayer

 Edward Jjemba, the Kikandwa chairperson, says EDOU is a transparent and accountable organisation that involves the local leaders in their activities and has helped the community greatly. The locals believe EDOU is their answered prayer from God.  With EDOU, I believe that my granddaughter and many others in this village will get an opportunity to study and reach university,” Nalongo Musoke, a resident of Bambula village, says. “Mutebi helps many children in this village,” Anastanzia Kyakwela, a resident of Kizigo village, says. 

78-year-old Benjamin Bukenya from Kikandwa village says when his older son had mental health problems, he was left with three grandchildren to take care of.  “I could not afford to take them to school and was helpless. When Mutebi said   he wanted to help, I was thrilled. EDOU not only paid school fees, but also bought new uniforms, books and pens,” he says. 

Efrance Nabbale did not go to school. The 71-year-old is taking care of three grandchildren. EDOU has raised school fees for each of them. Nabbale says their behaviour has also improved. “They are now disciplined and obedient because EDOU has people who talk to them regularly and counsel them  Because of this, I have hope that my children will have a bright future,” she says.  Fred Kasule is nine years old, but he has never seen his father. He left when Kasule was only one year old.

His mother, Prosy Kwagala, is a housewife who struggled to look after him until EDOU helped them out.  David Semuyaba of Kizigo village says: “I only went to school when there was money available. This affected my performance. With the help of EDOU, I and my four brothers are now in school. My father is a charcoal burner and my mother is a housewife.” Harriet Bukirwa and Fred Titibya’s mother abandoned them after their father died. They were brought up by their 91-year-old grandmother, Veronica Nankya. Their grandmother’s house collapsed and they had nowhere to live. EDOU provides shelter and school fees for the children.