Inspiring support is an art, but supporting the lowly in times of need, with a compassionate and contrite heart, is outright leadership from visionary politicians.
The Tereza Mpigi “nga asomesa omwana mu busobozi bwo” is one of the few programs Inspiring many children to get back to school in Mpigi
The program, initiated by the area Member of Parliament Teddy Nambooze has for the fourth year benefited several Mpigi residents with a total of 2015 students in both primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are taken back to school.
People with Disabilities, single mothers, and low-income earners are the biggest beneficiaries.
Currently, the 2015 students are back in school for the new academic year, all over Mpigi District.
According to Ivan Kizito, a community development specialist in Mpigi, those supported by the program in the past four years have not only gotten an opportunity to improve literacy in Mpigi District, but also engaged in the saving of money to start up cottage industries with skills and trainings from the same Member of Parliament.
“This is what we basically need. Leaders should think like Hon Nambooze and believe in supporting our people, get letters of opportunity, and learn as they build a community able to generate an income with literacy skills,” Kizito said.
Hon Teddy Nambooze has only been an MP since 2021. Prior to entering Parliament, literacy levels in Mpigi were at 41%, with many of the residents in remote areas lukewarm about the importance of education.
“Many of our people preferred plantation agriculture to education. For instance, in Kampiringisa and Kyabadaaza, young girls would get married and engage in family growing of ginger and never understood the importance of education,” says Kassim Kituuma, another civil society organization leader in Mpigi.
However, upon entering Parliament, the MP engaged several leaders and the District Education Department to ensure that they mobilize parents to have children go to low cost schools with enhanced school fees cuts with negotiations between the Hon Teddy Nambooze and school head teachers, directors to have children in school.
“In the process, we have succeeded. We pay minimal for our students in schools, and we also have many Directors of schools understanding that educating students is important for the development of a society at a minimal cost. See, we are succeeding and now have 2015 students all learning and getting trained with different schools,” Hon Teddy Nambooze says.
Sarah Nakyeyune, one of the beneficiaries of the program, says, after gaining training from the cottage industry, she can now sell books, chalk, and soap which has boosted her income generation abilities and improved her livelihood.
Nakyeyune now makes liquid soap, which she sells at schools and different institutions, which has greatly impacted income generation.
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