Government to renovate Lira, Kichwamba colleges

Nov 10, 2009

THE Government plans to rehabilitate the four national technical colleges, the education and sports state minister, Charles Bakabulindi, has said. The colleges are Bushenyi, Kichwamba, Elgon and Lira.

By Chris Ahimbisibwe

THE Government plans to rehabilitate the four national technical colleges, the education and sports state minister, Charles Bakabulindi, has said. The colleges are Bushenyi, Kichwamba, Elgon and Lira.

Bakabulindi also disclosed that the Government was negotiating with the Islamic Development Bank to provide funds to carry out the exercise.

This was contained in a message read by the commissioner for business, technical and vocational education and training, Ilahi Mansoor, on Friday during the 7th graduation ceremony of the Uganda Technical College Kahaya in Bushenyi district.

A total of 584 graduands received certificates and diplomas. Bakabulindi said more funds were being sourced from development partners like the Saudi Fund for Development, OPEC Fund for International Development and the Korean government.

Earlier, the principal of the college, Silver Mukwasiibwe, had said the increased number of students had exerted pressure on the college structures, which were constructed in the1950s.

“Most of the buildings should be condemned,” he said. Mukwasibwe said the college had not received funds for development in a long time, adding that it cannot generate enough money due to the increasing cost of training.

“We have a book store instead of library,” he said, adding that the Government should support the college by opening up a resource centre. Mukwasibwe called upon the Government to put more emphasis on technical education, saying the universal primary and secondary education programmes were producing large numbers of students, who needed training.

The district education officer, Norman Lukum, said the college needed financial support to provide the students with clean water and accommodation.

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