Chinese mark International children's day in Kibaale

EDUCATION     PROJECT    PUPILS   SCHOLARSHIPS    MUBENDE

The Chinese community in the districts of Mubende, Kakumiro, Kibaale and Kagadi has celebrated the 2019 International Children's day by awarding scholarships to needy but best performing children.

Li Xinxin, China communications construction company (CCCC), project manager for the upgrade of Mubende-Kakumiro-Kibaale-Kagadi (MKK) road project said that road construction does not work in isolation of the important sectors like education.

Li said "this is the reason why we as CCCC strongly believe that to achieve our goals of creating a connected network/infrastructural development in the world, education should not be neglected."

China Communication Construction Company is currently implementing a number of projects in the country which include the upgrading and expansion of Entebbe international Airport, the construction of Kampala-Entebbe express way, the upgrading of Soroti-Serere road, the construction of Masindi (Kisanje)-Park junction and Tangi junction-Paraa-Buliisa road project and the upgrading of the Mubende-Kakumiro-Kibaale-Kagadi (MKK) road project.

 
"We came up with the celebration of the international children's day in order to encourage children/pupils and students to study hard to be beneficial to the society when they grow up," said Li.

China communications construction company (CCCC), the contractor of the MKK road project started to support eight best and needy students from four districts along the MKK road project by giving children scholarships to the best two and needy pupils, one boy and one girl from each of the four districts.

This time round the company has given two more slots to Mubende district.

Li, speaking at Bujuni play ground in Kibaale district on Friday challenged leaders that for the young generation to study hard and be beneficial to their country, their protection must be adhered to for them to live longer better life.

"Please, don't make children move at night, protect them from early marriages, rape and defilement and try to protect them from hard labour when still young for them to be more productive in the future," said Li.

Pupils who benefited from the scholarship are Leonard Musingunzi-Kahunde primary school, Juliet Birungi-Muhorro Muslim primary school in Kagadi district, Joshua Lubega-Busesa primary school, Tugume Tumuramye-Muhangi primary school in Kibaale district, Joselyne Namwanjje-St. Peters primary school Bukuumi, Brian Asingwire-Kisiita primary school in Kakumiro district.

The other four from Mubende district are Haruna Ssekizivu-Rwegula primary school, Allen Ainembabazi-Ikula primary school, Julius Mukisa-Katete West primary school and Angela Namirembe-Katete west primary school.

The beneficiaries are the best performers, but also lack capacity to remain in school. The scholarship initiative started in 2017 where 8 children were awarded scholarships.

The beneficiary pupils were each awarded with a certificate and sh300,000 cash to enable them remain in school.

 

Hope Kanyenzi, the Kibaale district secretary for education and health, asked parents not to use this money to buy clothes, alcohol or meat, saying the money is specifically for buying scholastic materials for the children.

"As parents, please ensure this money is put to the proper use so that these children can remain in school," said Kanyenzi.

Feng, the project engineer, asked the community to watch these pupils who have benefited so that they continue with their studies without being married off.

John Alibankoha also thanked CCCC and asked them to maintain the spirit of the Corporate Social Responsibility Sheif Magezi Nsereko the Mubende-Mityana-Bulamu district Secretary for education thanked CCCC for supporting the real victim of the project and also giving the young generation hope for their education.

"Some contractors do not mind about the real people who have felt impacts of the project, but I want to commend you for this spirit and please continue," said Nsereko.

He said Mubende alone has been allocated 4 slots because they were the most affected.

The MKK road project is over 65% complete and the expected end date is March 23 2020, but the contractors believe it will done before that date.