RUBANDA.State Minister of Finance Henry Musasizi has attributed Uganda’s impressive 74% literacy rate to the government’s strategic interventions in free education.
Speaking at Murambo Church of Uganda in Bubare Town Council, Rubanda District, yesterday, Minister Musasizi highlighted the pivotal role of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) in achieving this progress.
He noted that the number of Ugandans who can read and write has steadily increased since 1997, when the government introduced UPE, followed by USE ten years later.
His remarks were in reference to the 2024 Census report, which indicates that up to 11.9 million Ugandans aged 10 and above are now educated.
Musasizi also shared his personal efforts to improve the quality of education in Rubanda East Constituency, where he serves as Member of Parliament.
“When I came to office in 2011, only one pupil had scored a first grade in P.7 across the whole of Rubanda East. However, we have since not only increased the number of children attending school but also those attaining first grades — from just 1 in 2011 to 168 last year,” he said.
Minister Musasizi emphasized his support for education through initiatives such as procuring annual PRE-PLE exams for Primary Seven pupils and awarding best performers in the PLE.
Meanwhile, the Minister contributed 100 bags of cement and 100 iron sheets toward the rehabilitation of Murambo Primary School.
The school, located in Murambo Cell, Bubare Town Council, Rubanda District, held a thanksgiving ceremony yesterday at Murambo Church of Uganda.
Musasizi also pledged to engage Rubanda District Governor Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba to explore how the school can be supported by the central government through the district’s local government structures.