PLE Pupils To Number One Million By 2003

By Grace Matsiko PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said the number of pupils sitting for the Primary Leaving Examinations is to increase from 300,000 every year to one million pupils in the year 2003. Addressing his second last re-election campaign rally in Buganda region at Nkumba near Entebbe town, Museveni said the dramatic increase of pupils in primary schools was due to the introduction of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme which his government started in 1997. "In 2003, we are going sit about one million pupils. That's why we should build more secondary schools and technical colleges to be able to absorb such a big number," Museveni said. He introduced his wife, Janet, to Nkumba residents as a partner in struggles. They were received by the area LCI chairman, Muhammad Kimbugwe. Museveni said the boda boda sub-sector, a creation of the Movement Government, had been able to create over 80,000 jobs. He said in rural areas where it used to take people four hours waiting along roads for a vehicle, it now takes 30 minutes. Museveni said school enrollment in Mpigi and Wakiso districts had gone up from 124,000 to 310,000 after the introduction of UPE. He said 800 new classrooms equivalent to over 100 primary schools had been constructed by the Government in the last three years. He said the Government allocated sh6b for water provision in Mpigi but because the district was big, the impact could not be felt in the rural areas. He said in 1986 only 10% of the population had access to clean water but this had been raised to 30%. A group of Buganda royals, including Prince David Ssimbwa, attended the rally. Ends