📸 Avoid misusing future golden opportunities — Barekye tells students

KAMPALA - The State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye, has appealed to students, especially those studying in the government Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools, to avoid misusing the golden opportunity provided by President Yoweri Museveni’s government.

She said that President Museveni, working with the First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who is the Minister of Education and Sports, has provided a golden opportunity to children from vulnerable families to acquire free education up to university.

Barekye said the President has also provided another opportunity for children who drop out of school for various reasons to join the many Presidential Skilling Centres he started in all regions countrywide. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

In addition to free formal education, Barekye stated, the President has also provided another opportunity for children who drop out of school for various reasons to join the many Presidential Skilling Centres he started in all regions countrywide.

She said that in these centres, which are free, learners are equipped with life skills and thereafter given capital to start their own ventures.

“You should be grateful to President Museveni for loving you this much; he does not want any child to get wasted at any level, and many would not have managed to acquire education without free universal education,” she said.

Barekye made the remarks on Tuesday at Kitebi Secondary School in Rubaga division, Kampala, as she presided over the opening ceremony of a patriotism training course in company of the Special Envoy of the President on Buganda Affairs, Joseph Mukasa Sewava, where they were warmly welcomed by the school headteacher, Hajji Mumammad Kamulegeya.

Sewava left students stunned when he removed his necktie and dressed the equally stunned student, removed his black jacket and watch and surrendered them to student.

Sewava surrenders jacket, watch and necktie to student 

However, Sewava stunned over 3,500 students when he surrendered his jacket, a watch and a necktie to a student who pledged to vote for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2031 general elections.

Hawali Kizito, a Senior Five Student who was attending the opening of a patriotism training course, was the beneficiary of the items. 

Kitebi Secondary School head teacher, Hajji Mumammad Kamulegeya, remarks.

Kizito, who doubles as the leader of Muslim prayers at the school, praised President Museveni for his good leadership and for stabilising the economy and maintaining peace.

He said that he was pleased that he recently got a National Identity Card and vowed that come the next presidential elections, he would be the first to cast his vote in favour of the president.

“I swear I will not look to any other candidate; I must vote for President Museveni because we want him to continue leading this country,” Kizito said to the applause of fellow students and guests.

With the statement, Ssewava stood up and approached the student who was donning a white t-shirt and commended him for the courageous statement. He first removed his necktie and dressed the equally stunned student, removed his black jacket and watch and surrendered them to him as the head teacher, Kamulegeya, cheered on.

Captain Richard Owaruhanga, the assistant commissioner in charge of training at the NSPC also commended President Museveni, who he said is the force behind the patriotism training in schools, for closely monitoring the progress of the programme.

He commended Kitebi SS for opening the doors for the patriotism secretariat to always conduct sessions, unlike some other schools that block them.

Hajji Kamulegeya thanked President Museveni and First Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who is the minister for education and sports, for loving the school and constantly responding to their requests for support.

He said that the school will continue to organise more training sessions for all learners to ensure they get good students who love themselves and their country.