First lady, UN boss discuss strengthening Uganda's education sector

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The First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has held talks with Leonard Mandizvidza Zulu, the new United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator to Uganda, to discuss strengthening partnerships between Uganda and the UN.

The meeting focused on education, technical training, and skills development.

The meeting took place during Zulu's courtesy visit to State House Nakasero on Wednesday.

The First Lady expressed appreciation for the longstanding cooperation between Uganda and the UN, highlighting several key education initiatives: UNESCO's 75-year history of advancing education and culture in Uganda, the UN Joint Adolescents and Youth Programme (implemented by 13 UN agencies), and the Education Plus Initiative, which promotes secondary education to reduce teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and HIV infections.

"We are thankful for the way the UN has held hands with us, particularly the Ministry of Education and Sports, all these years," Mrs. Museveni said.

A media release from her office states that the First Lady emphasised Uganda's commitment to continued collaboration and assured the UN that the Education sector would identify and prioritise its most urgent needs to guide immediate support efforts.

Mrs. Museveni stressed the critical need for hands-on technical instructors, especially in road and railway construction, to equip young Ugandans with practical skills, build local capacity, and reduce dependence on foreign companies for major infrastructure projects.

In his remarks, Zulu congratulated the First Lady on her nine years of service as Minister of Education and praised her dedication as a national champion for the girl child.

He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV, with emphasis on education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.

"The future of Uganda is its children, and their education must equip them with the skills to thrive here at home," Mr. Zulu said. He commended Uganda’s new secondary school curriculum for preparing young people to contribute to key sectors such as agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology.

Sharing insights from his recent visit to Karamoja, Mr. Zulu highlighted the success of vocational programs that transformed former cattle rustlers into skilled artisans. He noted that these models align with the UN Joint Adolescents and Youth Programme and should be expanded nationwide.

He expressed commitment to exploring the South–South cooperation to identify affordable technical instructors from countries with expertise in railway and road construction.

He also highlighted the need to improve teacher support, noting global challenges of low pay, heavy workloads, and limited professional development that drive many young teachers from the profession.

The UN Resident Coordinator also outlined four priority areas for Uganda–UN cooperation: expanding technical and vocational education and training (TVET); aligning education with Uganda's growth sectors – agriculture, tourism, mineral/oil development, and science and technology; promoting entrepreneurship education to reduce dependency on formal employment; and integrating education into the Parish Development Model, including adult literacy and community extension services.

He further underscored the UN’s commitment to six global transition areas: food systems, energy, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate change.

Mr. Zulu announced that the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026–2030), aligned with Uganda's Vision 2040 and development agenda, will soon be completed and launched in partnership with the Ugandan government.

Dignitaries at the meeting included Peter Ogwang, State Minister for Sports; Cleophus Mugenyi, Director of Basic and Secondary Education (representing the Permanent Secretary); Dr. Safina Musene, Director of Higher, Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Francis Atima, Director of Education Standards, Rosie Agoi, Secretary General of Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and Michael Wangusa, the Communications Officer in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office.