Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Education experts have called for Uganda’s ongoing curriculum reforms to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of all learners to produce a skilled workforce capable of adapting to the changing labour market.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, said international experience shows that curriculum reforms are more effective when they cater for every child.

‘We believe that every child matters and they can achieve their maximum potential provided the child is taught in a conducive learning environment,’ Dr Turyagyenda said.

She was speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day Second International Conference on Curriculum Development organised by the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) in Munyonyo from August 20 to 21.

The conference, held under the theme ‘Innovative curriculum approaches for sustainable education in the globalised world,’ attracted more than 700 participants physically and online.

Dr Turyagyenda said a conducive learning environment goes beyond classroom infrastructure to include the curriculum, teachers, parental support and learning materials, as well as giving children opportunities to ask questions and receive accurate answers.

She challenged universities and other institutions of higher learning to prepare for the delivery of programmes using competence-based approaches and pedagogy.

She pledged the ministry’s continued support for curriculum reforms that are relevant, inclusive, innovative, competence-based and aligned with Uganda’s national development priorities.

NCDC Director Dr Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga urged stakeholders to keep learners at the centre of the reforms.

‘We have done the thinking, shared the evidence and debated challenges. Let us all commit that the learner remains at the centre of everything that we do,’ she said.

Dr Nambi said curriculum reforms should translate into meaningful learning, relevant competencies and improved opportunities for every child.

Teachers, materials remain challenges

Participants identified inadequate teacher retooling and shortages of instructional materials among the challenges that could undermine implementation of the reforms.

NCDC Deputy Director Dr Richard Irumba acknowledged that the ratio of learning materials to learners remains low, although the Ministry of Education has distributed materials for the Lower Secondary Curriculum across the country.

‘All schools have been taken care of but the issue is the ratios. We are glad that every year, the budget for materials keeps increasing,’ he said.

He added that NCDC had adopted a blended training approach, combining physical and online sessions to retool more teachers.

UNICEF Chief of Education in Uganda, Ms Mukhamadieva Barno, said curriculum, teaching methods, assessment and teacher development must be implemented together to improve learning outcomes.

She said teachers must understand and believe in the curriculum, have access to the necessary materials and possess the skills required to prepare learners for the transition from education to employment.

Ms Mukhamadieva also called for technology and innovation to remain human-centred and inclusive, particularly for learners with disabilities, refugees, teenage mothers and young people facing socio-economic and geographical barriers to education.

‘Every change, innovation and reform should cater for all children equally,’ she said.

She noted that artificial intelligence and technology are rapidly transforming education and the world of work, but said technology should be used to expand opportunities while preserving learners’ critical-thinking abilities.

UNICEF Representative in Uganda Dr Robin Nandy said investment in children’s knowledge, skills and capabilities should begin in the earliest years of life.

‘The foundations for learning and productivity are built early. Quality early childhood development builds language, cognitive and social-emotional foundations,’ he said.

Dr Nandy warned that children who struggle with basic reading and mathematics may find it difficult to acquire higher-order skills required for secondary education, training and employment.

Universities urged to commercialise research and skills

Mr Francis Ongwang, Uganda Country Manager of the East African Development Bank, said universities should ensure their research and innovations directly address community challenges and contribute to socio-economic transformation.

He said institutions of higher learning should take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, tourism, biodiversity conservation and wildlife in regions such as Tooro and Rwenzori.

‘The most successful universities are those that translate their research findings into technologies, enterprises, policies, and solutions that improve livelihoods,’ Mr Ongwang said.

The conference organisers announced that the Third International Conference on Curriculum Development will be held in April 2029.

Uganda’s curriculum reforms

Uganda is shifting from a traditional, memory-based education system towards a competence-based curriculum that emphasises practical skills, critical thinking and continuous assessment.

The revised Lower Secondary Curriculum has been implemented since 2020, while the primary and A-Level curricula are undergoing review.

Universities and other institutions of higher learning are also expected to adopt Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) from the 2027/2028 academic year, with the aim of producing graduates with relevant skills, competencies and attitudes.

A shortage of beds, diagnostic equipment and reliable electricity at Kiyunga Health Centre IV in Luuka District is forcing some patients, particularly expectant mothers, to seek treatment from private clinics, increasing the financial burden on struggling families.

The government health facility is grappling with rising patient numbers amid limited infrastructure and staff, putting pressure on maternity, outpatient and other services.

The maternity ward faces the most severe challenge, with some mothers reportedly forced to sleep on the floor with their newborn babies because of inadequate beds and space.

Mr Gideon Mukama, the officer in charge of Kiyunga Health Centre IV, confirmed that the facility needs additional infrastructure, beds, diagnostic equipment and a more reliable power supply.

‘We have inadequate infrastructure as patient numbers rise daily. We lack enough beds and space, forcing some mothers to sleep on the floor with their newborn babies, which is against proper health practices,’ Mr Mukama said.

The facility conducts between three and five deliveries daily, translating to about 150 to 200 births each month, including normal and Caesarean deliveries. Its outpatient department receives about 3,000 patients monthly.

However, the health centre has only 11 beds in each of the female and male wards and four beds in the children’s ward.

The shortage has at times forced female patients to be admitted in the male ward when the female ward is full.

Mr Mukama said Kiyunga Health Centre IV effectively serves as Luuka District’s main referral facility because the district does not have a hospital.

Patients referred from lower-level Health Centre IIIs and IIs, as well as private clinics, are sent to Kiyunga for services unavailable at those facilities.

The pressure on the facility has also pushed some expectant mothers to seek services from private clinics, although some patients are later referred back to Kiyunga because of the range of services available there.

For low-income families, the choice between paying for private treatment and seeking care at an overcrowded public facility adds to the financial strain.

Diagnostic equipment shortage

Kiyunga Health Centre IV also lacks essential diagnostic equipment, including an X-ray machine.

Although the facility has a Complete Blood Count (CBC) machine, health workers say its diagnostic capacity remains inadequate for the number of patients it serves.

The shortage can complicate diagnosis for patients who require more comprehensive investigations.

Unreliable electricity affects theatre

The health centre has a functional operating theatre, but unreliable electricity has limited the use of some medical equipment.

Mr Mukama said some machines have remained idle because the power supply is not consistent enough to operate them.

Inadequate lighting in the theatre has also created challenges for medical teams conducting operations.

‘A successful surgical procedure requires reliable electricity, adequate lighting and properly sterilised equipment to ensure the safety of patients and health workers,’ he said.

MTN installs solar system

The challenges have attracted intervention from the Ministry of Health and MTN Uganda through the MTN Yellow Care initiative, which installed a solar power system at the health centre.

The system is intended to provide reliable electricity and lighting and enable health workers to use equipment that had previously remained idle because of power interruptions.

Ms Sylvia Mulinge, the MTN Uganda chief executive officer, said the intervention was aimed at addressing some of the challenges affecting healthcare delivery.

She said inadequate infrastructure, limited access to health information and insufficient public sensitisation on health issues remain barriers to improving healthcare services.

Luuka District Health Officer Dr Christopher Wandera said MTN Uganda also donated medical equipment and other supplies, including delivery and examination beds, oxygen concentrators, computers and bicycles for Village Health Teams.

‘They have also installed a solar power system to run previously idle medical equipment and provide reliable lighting at the health centre, improving medical services in the district,’ Dr Wandera said.

Malaria remains common

Dr Wandera said malaria remains among the most common diseases reported in the district, alongside respiratory infections, particularly among children, and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Despite the intervention, health workers and residents say more investment is needed in infrastructure, beds, diagnostic equipment and other essential services.

With Kiyunga Health Centre IV serving as a major referral facility for lower-level health centres and private clinics, stakeholders say strengthening its capacity would improve healthcare delivery and ease pressure on Luuka District’s health system.

Crop and livestock health is crucial to agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods.

However, in low income earning countries, including Uganda, small holder farmers are often left without sufficient support to deal with crop and animal problems.

Now, with the help of experts from Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), farmers have demonstrated that through running plant clinics in farmer communities, there is potential for broadening plant clinics to better meet farmers needs through advice.

The team has developed integrated crop-livestock health advisory to help farmers in the country to address major health and production challenges affecting crops, livestock and food safety. This was revealed in a consultative review meeting organised by CABI for stakeholders involved in implementing this initiative.

The regional CABI director in Uganda, Dr Monica Kansiime, explained that the CABI-led project for joint plant and livestock clinics grew out of 18 years of plant clinic experience under the Global Plant Clinic and plantwise programmes.

Plant doctors noticed farmers constantly brought animal health queries to plant clinics because local rural extension services lacked integrated, multi-disciplinary support.

The Plantwise Model was established in 2005 through physical and mobile plant health clinics in Uganda and it expanded globally in 2011. The purpose was to diagnose crop pests and give science-based advice to farmers. Informal queries about livestock occurred early on in

Uganda, Bangladesh and Nicaragua because smallholder farmers manage both crops and animals side by side

A Plant Doctor Surveys conducted from 2016-2017 across multiple countries showed over 80 percent of plant doctors regularly received livestock questions because rural farmers had nowhere else to turn.

How scientists are doing it

Dickens Murungi, a senior agricultural inspector at MAAIF, explained that the background of agricultural productivity, animal and plant health are intrinsically linked to the health of humans, livestock and the environment in many different ways.

Livelihoods, food security and food safety rely on healthy plants and animals, which in turn need robust production systems. However, smallholder farmers often face challenges that impact production. This led to the Platform for Agricultural Risk Management to identify pests and diseases in crops and livestock among the most important constraints to agricultural productivity in several African countries, including Uganda.

Some of the causes include insufficient crop and livestock extension officers and veterinary officers, limited awareness and knowledge among farmers of crop and livestock health management, poor soil fertility and livestock nutrient management

What is this project doing?

The project’s overall goal is to contribute to improving the health and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in East Africa.

Experts have set up crop and livestock health advisory services that enable smallholder farmers to address major health and production problems affecting crops, livestock and food safety.

Mr Murungi explained that the project started initially as a pilot and had three main objectives: which include improving access to joint crop-livestock health advisory services for smallholder farmers, strengthening the crop-livestock service advisory system among plant and livestock outreach services and exploring the possibilities of expanding the model to farmers in Kenya from lessons learnt from the pilot in Uganda.

Key activities in Phase One included collecting farmer baseline information and practices on one health, establishing and operationalising 80 joint crop-livestock clinics and consultation sessions in four districts of Uganda, training crop and animal health officers and providing relevant information materials for farmers and veterinary staff on one health topics.

Other activities included assessing farmers’ demand for livestock advice at plant clinics in Kenya and sharing experiences from the Uganda pilot with relevant crop-livestock stakeholders in Kenya to pilot crop-livestock clinics and consultations in Kenya.

Former Butaleja District LC5 chairperson Michael Higenyi Bory was arrested and on Thursday remanded to Butaleja Government Prison after being charged with obtaining money by false pretences.

Mr Higenyi was arrested after he allegedly went to the office of the current district chairperson, Elvis Were. The reasons for his visit were not immediately clear.

He had been wanted by police and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit over allegations that he obtained money from job applicants by falsely promising to secure them employment with Butaleja District Local Government.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), arraigned Mr Higenyi before Butaleja Chief Magistrate Joy Nambozo.

The magistrate read two counts of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Act. Mr Higenyi denied the charges.

Prosecution told court that investigations were still ongoing and asked for more time to complete inquiries.

According to the State, Mr Higenyi and other suspects still at large allegedly obtained money from two job applicants between 2021 and 2026 after promising to secure them jobs with the district local government.

On the first count, prosecution alleges that between 2021 and January 2026, Mr Higenyi obtained Shs1 million from Makoha Evelyn after promising to secure her a job as an enrolled nurse with Butaleja District Local Government.

The second count alleges that in January 2024, Mr Higenyi and others still at large obtained Shs5.5 million from Kajuri John Michael after allegedly promising to secure him a similar position.

Mr Higenyi is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Ms Nambozo ordered him to remain on remand until September 1, 2026, when court will consider his bail application and mention the case.

Police in Mbarara have arrested three suspects accused of stealing and slaughtering 39 cows and 10 goats and transporting the meat to Kasese and Congo for sale.

According to the Mbarara DPC, SP Keneth Kabwigo, the suspects including Steven Bazara, 62, a Congolese, Peter Mutesasira, 40, from Nyendo, and John Mary Muhindo, 50, from Kasese, were intercepted in their box-body cars.

He said investigations are ongoing and that the suspects will be charged accordingly.

“They say they got these cows from Sanga transporting them to Kasese and Congo. We don’t know where exactly they got these cows from and we don’t know the intention because they are transporting meat illegally,” he said.

Dr Brian Ainomugisha, the Mbarara City Veterinary Officer, said transporting meat that is not well inspected puts people’s lives at risk.

“I have done a postmortem examination to confirm and I am taking some samples to the laboratory for further diagnosis, the suspects have been putting people’s health at risk, these people should be charged accordingly, I advise people out there to always report such cases,” he said.

The harvests for most crops in different parts of the country have been poor this year mainly because of the prolonged rains the country experienced in the last months of last year (2025) up to the end of April this year.

Robusta coffee farmers saw their crop preparing to flower, only to see the buds dying and rotting due to the persistent rains. This resulted in poor coffee harvests for most parts of central and western Uganda.

The persistent rains also caused low harvests for crops such as beans and groundnuts. Many people took advantage of the rains to plant coffee.

The young plants grew with vigour and gave hope to most farmers, particularly those taking up coffee farming for the first time.

Young men have been seen fetching water in plastic cans on motorcycles and bicycles from the swamps to irrigate the young coffee trees whenever the rains exhibited signs of delay.

However, around the beginning of May this year, the rains stopped almost suddenly and right now, nearly every plant in much of central Uganda and many other parts of the country is wilting due to water shortage. Deaths have actually been reported in Karamoja where whole fields of crops dried up.

Irrigation efforts have been slowed down following most swamps and streams going dry due to the unusually long and drought. The rain water tanks have gone dry in most homes where they exist. All Robusta coffee farmers are disappointed, especially the newcomers in coffee production.

Entire fields of maize and beans have been destroyed. People can hardly find water for their animals to drink, for preparing their meals, and even for toiletry.

Then came AGRA’s Food Security Monitor July 2026 report, which announced the impending strong El Nino event that may last from around October this year to April nest year, and pose significant risks to global and African food security through droughts, floods, agricultural losses, and economic destruction.

It says: ‘The event has already contributed to rainfall deficits across several regions, including East Africa, while the African Development Bank estimates it could reduce GDP in heavily affected African countries by 1-2 percent and generate economic losses of $10-20 billion through crop failures, livestock losses, infrastructure damage, rising food prices and increased migration pressures.’

Farmers and governments are accordingly cautioned to strengthen preparedness to mitigate the anticipated impacts on food security and livelihoods.

When craving banana ginger bread, I prefer to use apple bananas (sukari ndizi). In this loaf, it gives it a sweeter taste than the larger bananas (bogoya). However, you can use them instead if they are what you have on hand because the difference is subtle. The warm spices and molasses make it even more delicious. All the ingredients used in this recipe can be mixed by hand, and there is no need for an electric mixer.

Ingredients

(Makes one 9 by 5′ loaf)

340g (12) ripe, apple bananas (sukari ndizi)

Or 4 large bananas (bogoya)

1 tsp lemon juice

35ml (2 tbsp + 1 tsp) molasses

120ml (½ cup) plain yoghurt

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

213g (1 cup) brown sugar

300g (2½ cups) all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

A pinch salt

1½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground cinnamon

120ml (½ cup) vegetable oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 177°C/350°F/gas mark 4 and lightly grease and line a 9 by 5′ (23 by 13cm) loaf tin with parchment paper overhanging the sides, so that the loaf can easily be lifted out of the pan after it has been baked.

In a large bowl, sieve together, the flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cloves and cinnamon and set aside. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas well with a potato masher. Stir in the lemon juice and mix well. Add the eggs, molasses, brown sugar, oil, yoghurt and vanilla essence and mix until fully incorporated.

Add the flour mixture and whisk together until just combined and no traces of the flour mixture are visible.

Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. After the loaf is cooked, carefully lift it out of the pan using the flaps of parchment paper and cool completely on a wire rack, before slicing.

Enjoy with tea or coffee, or hot chocolate.

Leonard Chemonges could have lived his best day as an athlete in his motherland yesterday. In the western town of Kasese, the 35-year-old got his biggest pay cheque ever after he conquered the growing Tusker Lite Mt Rwenzori Marathon.

The elite long-distance runner produced a well-controlled display around the lower parts of the Mt Rwenzori ranges to win the men’s 42km race in a course record time of two hours, 13 minutes and 25 seconds.

That earned him the prize money of Shs40m from sponsors – the government through National Council of Sports (NCS). ‘I am feeling good,’ with beads of sweat littered all over his face, Chemonges spoke at the finish-line.

‘The race was good. I prepared for this race for three months,’ he said. Chemonges first competed at this event in 2024 and he came fourth as Abel Chelangat set the course record in 2:14:59.

In 2025, Chemonges was left crestfallen though. ‘I got lost on the route. I ran about 46km for two hours and 28 minutes and lost the money.’

Yesterday after the field was flagged off by sports minister Hon. Peter Ogwang at the Equator landmark in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Chemonges did it differently.

He kept his eyes on the lead car and beat Chelangat’s mark by 94 seconds. Chemonges is a 2:11:00 performer, a personal best earned at the 2025 Daegu Marathon in South Korea.

Six months after finishing 10th in Daegu, Chemonges returned to Kasese to pocket a figure that no other Ugandan athlete has won at any sporting competition this year.

‘I am going to buy land or cows,’ stated the man who trains in Kween with coach Peter Chelangat and Jacob Kiplimo in the Rosa Associati camp. He was part of the lead group of about 15 who crossed the halfway mark at 1:07:21 before Martin Chemusto controlled matters at 25km.

He endured the next steep part of the course before the lead group reduced to four. Alex Masai dropped off then Fred Cherotwo followed suite before Alex Mutai lost grip of Chemonges in the last 3km.

In the women’s 42km, Kenyan Margaret Japchumba peeled away in the last 3km before winning in a time of 2:39:15 for Shs40m too. Ugandan Vanis Chemutai arrived four minutes later in 2:43:32.

The event, engineered by Amos Wekesa, saw significant growth by over 2000 participants in the 5km, 10km, 21km and 42km races.

‘The number of elite athletes has increased, why? It is because of the prize money. And as the Ministry of Education and Sports, that is the main area where we came up with the plan of working with Amos Wekesa to attract more athletes,’ said Ogwang after he ran 10km.

‘Five years ago, this marathon started with a bold vision, and today, seeing more than 8,000 people come together is incredibly exciting,’ Tusker Lite brand manager Sandra Againe remarked.

More than 8600 individuals from 43 countries registered to compete for this year’s edition. ‘We are proud to have created an experience that brings people together while showcasing the beauty of Kasese and Uganda to the world,’ added Againe.

And for proper rubber-stamp in improvement in quality, the event was broadcast live for the first time live via the World Athletics YouTube page which holds more than 2.49 million subscribers, to over 12100 viewers globally.

2026 RWENZORI MARATHON

MEN’S 42KM RESULT

1 Leonard Chemonges (UGA) 2:13:25

2 Alex Mutai (UGA) 2:13:36

3 Fred Cherotwo (UGA) 2:13:49

WOMEN’S 42KM RESULT

1 Margaret Japchumba (KEN) 2:39:15

2 Vanis Chemutai (UGA) 2:43:32

3 Joan Chebet (UGA) 2:44:08

RWENZORI MARATHON

CAST OF MALE 42KM WINNERS

2026: Leonard Chemonges (UGA)

2025: Bernard Cheptoch (UGA)

2024: Abel Chelangat (UGA)

2023: Vitalis Kwemoi (UGA)

2022: Allan Andiema (UGA)

Anthony Kushaba, a communications officer with the Ntungamo District Local Government and a former Uganda Radio Network (URN) journalist, was found dead in his rented room in Ntungamo town on Friday, hours after spending the evening with friends.

Kushaba, 36, had served in the district for about eight years.

His colleagues became concerned after he failed to report to work on Friday and could not be reached by phone.

‘We were together at his aunt’s burial in Nyabihoko on Thursday. We left together, had dinner, and he drove home at around 10:00 p.m.,’ said Eng. Prosper Butubuura, a close workmate.

‘He was always among the first to report to the office, but at times he would travel to his home in Kabale without telling anyone. When we realised he was not in the office and had not come in by midday, and calls to his phone were not going through, we decided to look for him physically,’ Butubuura said.

Kushaba, the younger brother of lawyer Eron Kiiza, rented a room a few meters from the district headquarters where he worked. When Butubuura and his colleagues went to check on him, they found the door locked and received no response when they knocked.

‘I called the landlady, and we decided to call the police. But before the police arrived, I looked through the rear window and saw the shoes he was wearing the previous evening. The door was locked from the inside, and there were all the signs that he was in there,’ Butubuura said.

The door was later forced open, and Kushaba was found dead on his bed.

His landlady, Juliet Kwata, said Kushaba normally woke up in the morning, greeted people, and went to work, although his routine sometimes made it difficult for neighbors to know whether he was inside his room. She noted that he would occasionally sleep for several extra hours or leave his car parked outside while walking to the office, meaning his absence from the compound did not immediately raise suspicion.

The night before his death, Kushaba had been with friends at a pork joint in the Buhumuriro suburb, where they spent the evening together.

‘He told us many stories, mimicked a wedding for one of us, and assigned each of us roles to play at that wedding. He was a very happy man,’ said a friend who asked not to be named.

A postmortem conducted at Itojo Hospital reportedly revealed ruptured blood vessels, according to Butubuura, who said doctors linked the condition to Kushaba’s death.

‘Doctors told us that the vessels carrying blood to the heart had ruptured in the upper part of the body, preventing blood from reaching the brain, which caused his death,’ Butubuura told Monitor.

There was no immediate indication that Kushaba’s death was connected to his brother’s exile or his brother’s work as a lawyer. Butubuura said Kushaba had not reported receiving threats to his life, although he had previously raised concerns over workplace-related issues.

Kushaba began his journalism career in 2009 before moving into radio presentation at BFM in Bushenyi and later Voice of Kigezi in Kabale. He subsequently joined URN, where he served as the agency’s Mbarara bureau chief for about three years before joining the Ntungamo District Local Government.

Colleagues remembered him as outspoken and willing to voice workplace grievances.

‘If we had grievances and failed to air them, we would tell Anthony, and he would either raise them during meetings or speak to the concerned parties directly,’ said Florence Kisembo, an inventory officer. ‘He fought for our rights and was straightforward and direct-an open man,’ she added.

Kushaba is survived by his wife and three children.

Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang has called for increased investment in infrastructure at government-aided health training institutions, saying inadequate facilities are undermining the quality of professional training.

Mr Ogwang said some government institutions have adequate infrastructure while others remain poorly equipped and appear neglected despite their importance to the health sector.

‘We have some institutions that are doing well, but there are some you go there and want to cry. For an institute to perform well, infrastructure is key. Even in sports, you can’t perform when you are not doing enough training from a good environment,’ he said.

He was speaking on Friday during the fourth graduation ceremony of Ntungamo College of Nursing and Midwifery.

Mr Ogwang said a conducive learning environment, trained staff and facilities such as laboratories and accommodation are essential for producing competent health workers.

He directed the Commissioner for Health Education and Training in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Safinah Kisu Musene, to provide funding for the construction of a female hostel at the college.

He further instructed the ministry to consider reallocating funds from institutions with adequate infrastructure to support facilities that remain underserved.

The directive followed concerns raised by the college principal, Mr Wilber Tukamuhabwa, who said the institution, which was taken over by the government in 2017, had not received funding for the construction of a single building.

He also said the college is operating with less than 25 percent of its required staff.

Dr Musene urged the graduating nurses and midwives to uphold professionalism in their workplaces and pursue further education to improve their skills and employment opportunities.

A total of 432 nurses and midwives graduated, including eight diploma students. Mr Tukamuhabwa said more than 700 students have graduated from the institution since its establishment.

The college was established as a district project in 2010 before being taken over by the government, following efforts by then Ruhaama County MP and First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.

Mr Ogwang also commissioned a 70-seater bus provided to the college by the Ministry of Education and Sports and a 200-seater classroom block constructed with support from parents.

He told the gathering that Mrs Museveni had fully recovered from her recent illness and thanked residents for their prayers.

‘I am happy to inform you that the First Lady is now fully recovered, courtesy of your prayers, and she will soon be ready to perform all her duties. Continue praying for her,’ he said.

The minister said the government would work towards ensuring equitable infrastructure development across health training institutions.

According to Ministry of Health statistics cited at the ceremony, the country faces a significant shortage of nurses and midwives, with less than 25 percent of the required personnel available in some health facilities and fewer than 60 percent of the required cadres trained.

Ruhaama County MP Beatrice Rwakimari urged the government to increase support to health training institutions, particularly in infrastructure, quality assurance and regulation of training fees, which she said remain too high for many prospective students.