Stakeholders call for increased education funding, better leadership in Bushenyi

_______________

Bushenyi

Stakeholders in Bushenyi district have called on the government to increase funding for Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), citing poor infrastructure, underfunding, and low enrollment as key challenges affecting public schools.

The appeal was made during a stakeholders' validation meeting on citizens’ needs and aspirations at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation Western Regional Resource Centre in Ishaka. The meeting was convened by the Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) under the Strengthening Citizens Engagement and Accountability (SCEPA) program.

Participants urged the education ministry to review and clarify the school fees policy, calling for either standardised charges across all public schools or the complete abolition of all school-related payments to ensure education is truly free and inclusive.

Stakeholders expressed concern over low staffing levels, neglected school infrastructure, and the Ministry’s delay in rolling out the new curriculum at lower primary level.

They noted that many government-aided primary schools in the district have fewer than 50 pupils, with parents increasingly opting for private schools in search of better standards.

Chris Mugasha, a journalist with New Vision, warned that many government schools are on the verge of collapse due to continued neglect.

“Why are parents running away from government schools? The conditions are demoralising for both learners and teachers,” he said.

Mugasha noted that secondary schools have shown some improvement in enrolment, attributing this to the contributions of old boys and old girls (OBs and OGs) associations, as well as the introduction of the new curriculum.

Participants also questioned the adequacy of the current government funding under UPE and USE. According to official figures from the education ministry, the Government provides only shillings 20,000 per pupil per year under UPE. For USE, each student is allocated approximately shillings 331,608 per term, totalling about 994,824 annually. Stakeholders argued that this level of funding is insufficient to run schools effectively or provide quality education.

Local leaders to blame

Other panellists blamed some of the challenges on poor planning and weak implementation by district technocrats. However, Bushenyi district planner Dickson Bamusiime shifted the blame to local leaders, accusing them of failing to carry out routine monitoring and follow-up of government programs.

“Most of these problems persist because the leaders entrusted with oversight are not doing their part. There is little to no follow-up, and without regular monitoring, even well-planned interventions cannot succeed,” Bamusiime said.

Apollo Kakonge Lee, the chief executive officer of WACSOF, reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to working with both communities and leaders to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery.

“As WACSOF, our role is to bridge the gap between citizens and duty bearers. We are committed to empowering communities to demand better services while also supporting leaders to fulfil their responsibilities,” Kakonge said.

Service delivery challenge

Beyond education, participants highlighted other pressing issues affecting service delivery in the district. These included deteriorating roads, high healthcare costs, declining agricultural productivity, limited access to clean and safe water, and increasing insecurity in some areas.

Twahika Denis blamed the lack of development on the election of incompetent leaders. He accused voters of accepting bribes in the form of money and food during elections, which he said undermines service delivery.

“Leaders who bribe their way into office rarely deliver. They first focus on recovering what they spent during campaigns instead of serving the people,” he said.

Despite the concerns raised, Bushenyi District Deputy Resident Commissioner (D/RDC) Kasigazi William Donanto reminded participants that Bushenyi still holds a strong legacy of academic excellence, one that should be protected and enhanced through collective effort.

“Bushenyi has beaten the odds when it comes to academic performance. But sometimes, you don’t seem to realise what you have,” he said. “This district has produced more commissioners, professors, and doctors than many others in Uganda. It’s time we build on that legacy and formally declare Bushenyi an education hub.”

Kasigazi acknowledged the district’s educational success but emphasised the need to address other development gaps.

“While we’ve done well in education, we must also improve other sectors like health, roads, and water. As government, we recognise these challenges and we are committed to addressing them,” he added.

The meeting was attended by opinion leaders, religious leaders, local government officials, security personnel, teachers, and journalists.