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President Museveni has said that his administration is soon coming up with a new law that prohibits charging of school fees from parents in all government schools across the country.
“The Head Teachers still bring back school charges yet we are sending so much money here for UPE. In Teso alone there are 723 primary schools where we send up to Shs7billion, We allocate this for the Children of the poor to study, but you still find people chasing them from school” Museveni highlighted.
Museveni made these remarks while campaigning for the NRM flag bearer Mr. Philip Oucor ahead of Serere County By-Election on February 23rd 2023.
“We are going to bring a new law totally prohibiting charging of fees in government schools. If you want to charge money, go and build a private school. You will soon hear the war on that issue.” Museveni remarked.
“We told these people if you think this money we are sending you is not enough, tell us we send more, but don’t send children back home. Ignorance is a big problem. We gave you the method, but people don’t listen to us. We said free Education is a way to abolish ignorance, but still we get resistance” Museveni noted.
The president also called on the people of Serere to embrace government programs like Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga as this will help them improve their livelihoods.
“There are 821 parishes in Teso and we are sending Shs100 million to each one of them in one year and next year the same, this money is your Parish bank we don’t want you to pay back that money to government. There’s also Emyooga at the constituency which is mainly for the skills of the hands like carpentry, tailoring among other skills I urge you to embrace all these” he highlighted.
In his remarks the Serere District LCV Chairperson also a member of FDC, Mr. Steven Ochora assured President Museveni that he will work with NRM for the good of the people of Serere.
“Development has no boundary, which is why I’m willing to work with the ruling party. I also take this opportunity to thank the President for giving Serere, a district status, this has enabled government to bring services closer to our people,” Mr. Ochora said.
He however requested the President to upgrade Serere’s only Health Centre IV to a hospital because it serves the whole district. He also brought it to the attention of the President that the Education and Health sectors in the area need to be given priority.
The Serere County Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the sudden tragic death of MP Bishop Patrick Okabe who perished in a motor accident on the 19th December 2022 along Mbale Tirinyi Road.
