By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
WAKISO
The Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation at the RDC Secretariat/ACU in the Office of the President, Lt. Col. Ambako Kibrai has raised concerns over the mismanagement of education funds and the high student dropout rates.
Kibrai made the remarks on Wednesday during a mobilization meeting with Busiro South leaders in Wakiso district to monitor the progress of government projects in the area.
Despite government commitment to free education in public primary and secondary schools, Kibrai says that many schools charge additional school fees and surcharges that burden parents who are only expected to provide meals.
According to him, imposing extra charges on parents makes education unreasonably expensive and contradicts government policy.
The Senior Presidential Advisor also expressed concerns over a worrying trend in dropout rates, noting that while schools receive government funding based on initial enrollment figures collected through the Education Management Information System (EMIS), many students drop out before completing primary education.
“If a million students enroll in Primary 1, by the time they reach Primary 7, only about 600,000 remain. Where do the 400,000 students go? And why do schools continue receiving money for students who are no longer there?”
Lt. Col. Kibrai urged school administrators, parents, and political leaders to take responsibility, questioning why concerns about dropouts only arise when students are about to sit for their final exams.
He also warned against politicizing education, stating that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has made significant strides in ensuring access to free education.
“Some politicians have turned this into a tool to attack the government. But the reality is, the government has done its part. Education is not a political issue—it is a national responsibility.”
Additionally, Kibrai highlighted challenges in primary healthcare, urging medical personnel to improve communication with patients when medicine stockouts occur. He noted that unexplained shortages fuel public frustration and mistrust in government services.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Sr. Akiror Mary Grace, the Deputy Head of RDC Secretariat/ACU emphasized teamwork amongst local government leaders and technical wing which she says fosters productivity and effective service delivery.
“Working in isolation does not yield the best results. I encourage all stakeholders in Busiro South to continue fostering teamwork and strengthening this spirit further,” said Dr. Sr. Akiror.
Hon. Frederick Nkayi Mbagadhi, In Charge of RDCs/RCCs Kampala and Metropolitan Area explained the significance of the secretariat’s visit to Busiro as enhancing relationship between the President’s Office (RDC office) with local leaders as well as identifying local challenges and finding possible solutions to addressing them.
“We want to understand where the obstacles lie and how we can work together to resolve them […] At the Office of the President level, our role is to bridge the gap between government policies and their execution on the ground. We are here to strengthen that connection and ensure that all stakeholders work together effectively.”
Debates around school fees and healthcare service delivery continue, but civilian experts urge transparency and accountability to ensure that education and healthcare policies benefit all Ugandans.
