Museveni opens Maryhill golden Jubilee complex

Jun 24, 2012

President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed that government has allocated shs2.7billion to the ministry of education to expand infrastructure in schools and other Institutions.


By Abdulkarim Ssengendo

President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed that government has allocated shs2.7billion to the ministry of education to expand infrastructure in schools and other Institutions.

According to the minister of education, Rtd Maj.Jesca Alupo, the fund would be used to rehabilitate and equip 40 selected schools to be center of excellence.

Maryhill High school, Mbarara High school and Kyezimbire SS ion Mbarara district are among the schools to benefit on the funding.

The President assured Ugandans that schools and other education Institutions would receive more funds for Infrastructural development since Uganda now has its own oil.

The President revealed at the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Maryhill High school in Mbarara district on Saturday. He contributed shs80million towards the completion of the 3 stored Sr. Cathleen McCarthy DMJ Golden Building.

The president commissions the completed first phase of the construction (ground floor). According to the headmistress, Margaret Atim Mugeni, they need shs4.4 billion to complete the bulding.

President was among the 7 people recognised for their contributions towards the growth and development of Maryhill High school. Others were Archibishop Paul K.Bakyenga and other four.

He challenged the Alumni (old students) to support the development of the institutions they went through. He said if each Almni can contribute a certain portion of money, the Institutions would grow very fast.

Museveni also challenged institutions and schools to change from colonial system of education and start training students in fields which are not easy to circulate in the job market.

He reminded Ugandans that in the other parts of colonial time the training was to produce for colonial system, Interpreters for colonial administrators, and other axillaries for colonial system.

He said the slogan of education before independence was `` Africanization`` Africanisation of the civil service. He recalled when he was in Ntare, they had only two African teachers.

He noted that people are crying of unemployment yet many professions and technical jobs are vacant like medicine. He said Uganda has about
34 million people, and would need about 17000 doctors compared to the current 2000 doctors.

``The hunger for doctors in Uganda is very high, engineers, science teachers, nurses are fields we should direct our children to take,`` Museveni said and emphasized on training for self-employment.

 ``Its not enough to celebrate the past, we must prepare for the future,`` President added. `` he said reforms that took place in the church should take place in education.

The President was glad the ministry had started skilling Uganda and carrier guidance and was also happy about some schools efforts which have started skilling students.

He saluted daughters of Mary and Josephs who started Maryhill high school. He commended Maryhill High school for the support they gave him during 1974, 1979 and 1985 war. He said Maryhill was his route during those wars and he received many blessings.

Maryhill High School that started with only 25 students, now boasts of enrollment of about 1115 students from within Uganda and other East African countries. The first headmistress was a white, Sr Mary Xavier-Daughters of Mary and Joseph 1961-1963.

The school gave sanctuary to Rwandan refugees students since its inception thus boasting of a large community Maryhill Old Girls in Rwanda who have formed their association Maryhill Old Girls Association (MOGA) Chapter

Margaret Atim Mugeni, commended Catholics who contributed shs1 each to establish the school.

She recognized NRM government for advocating for the girl child education. However, she said the school still face challenges needs more funds to complete the complex building. He said the needs more support to complete the golden jubilee. She also said the schools need staff houses.

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