IGANGA, Uganda (UGNEWSLINE) – NRM National Treasurer, Hon. Amb. Barbra Nekesa Oundo, has urged schools to give greater attention to engineering and other STEM-related disciplines to help address Uganda’s shortage of professionals in the sector.
Nekesa made the remarks on Friday at Iganga Progressive Secondary School, where she joined the school administration, parents, teachers and students for prayers and the dedication of Senior Four and Senior Six candidates ahead of their examinations.
She commended the school for placing faith at the centre of its activities, saying a strong spiritual foundation can complement academic excellence and shape responsible citizens.
“We have started well by putting everything before the Almighty God. The Bible tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and the rest will follow,” Nekesa said.
She prayed for the candidates to receive wisdom, knowledge and understanding as they sit their examinations, urging them to carefully interpret questions and work hard to achieve good results.
Nekesa said education should play a central role in Uganda’s development and encouraged the school to increase its focus on engineering.
“Other than technology, I want to urge our teachers to put more emphasis in the area of engineering. Let us produce more engineers; we are still lacking as a country in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” she said.
She also encouraged young people to use the knowledge acquired from school to transform their families and communities, particularly by promoting wealth creation rather than relying solely on subsistence activities.
According to Nekesa, education should go beyond preparing learners for formal employment and equip them with practical knowledge and skills that can help them tackle social and economic challenges in their communities.
She further called on young people to embrace patriotism and reject sectarianism, recalling that Uganda experienced divisions based on tribe and political affiliation before the NRM came to power in 1986.
“Before NRM came to power in 1986, we had a problem of disunity and sectarianism in this country. People would be in a political party based on their tribe, but poverty does not know any tribe or language,” she said.
Nekesa praised Iganga Progressive Secondary School for promoting patriotism among learners, saying continued efforts to instil national values can contribute to a more united society.
“Issues and tendencies of sectarianism shall be stamped out by what you have started as Iganga Progressive, to continuously preach patriotism among our young people,” she said.
She also urged students from rural communities to use their education to help their families understand and overcome socioeconomic challenges when they return home for the holidays.
The NRM treasurer asked the candidates to remain focused as they prepare for their examinations, noting that teachers had already provided the necessary guidance.
“The teachers have done their part; now the rest is yours. Remember that you cannot fatten the goat on the market day,” Nekesa said.
Nekesa also encouraged young people to participate actively in national development, noting that Uganda has a youthful population that requires the energy, skills and patriotism of its young people.
She said she joined Government at the age of 26 and has since served for 16 years, using her experience to encourage young people to take part in the country’s affairs.
Meanwhile, the Woman Member of Parliament for Iganga District, Hon. Mariam Seif, urged parents to closely monitor their children during the upcoming holiday.
Mariam expressed concern over HIV/AIDS among teenagers in the district and called on parents to take an active role in protecting their children.
“My message to our parents is that these are your children, our children and children of Uganda. As they come for the short holiday, let us put a keen eye on them,” she said.
She also encouraged parents to have their children screened for sickle cell disease, saying screening should be embraced by both children and adults.
Mariam said the district is implementing campaigns to address HIV/AIDS and sickle cell disease, while urging parents to take children below five years for immunisation.
She noted that the ongoing immunisation activities provide an opportunity for parents to ensure their children receive the required vaccines and remain protected against preventable diseases.
