Sh32m raised as Minister Babalanda leads fundraising at Busesa Technical Institute

BUGWERI, UGANDA: At least 32 million shillings was collected on Tuesday in a fundraising drive to complete Kirunda Kivejjinja Memorial Workshop at Busesa Technical Institute in Bugweri district, Eastern Uganda.

The Presidency Minister Hon Babirye Milly Babalanda who officiated at the function said the technical institute has been at a standstill ever since the death of its founder Hajj Kivejjinja, and that she joined the fundraising drive on the invitation of Bugweri Woman MP Hon Racheal Magoola alias Obangaina to have the workshop completed.

Ms Babalanda commended the government of Uganda led by President Museveni for initiating a program of constructing technical institutes at the constituency level. However, the minister says the money which was allocated to the institute from the Ministry of Education and Sports to facilitate the construction of a classroom block, an administration block and a workshop wasn’t enough and the workshop was not completed.

“The NRM government led by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has had a program of constructing Technical Institutes at the Constituency level to enable many of our young people to acquire vocational skills,” Minister Babalanda said.

“In 2010, Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejjinja (RIP) started this project through lobbying and eventually the construction works for Busesa Technical Institute were initiated. The Ministry of Education and Sports allocated funds to cater for the construction of a classroom block, an administration block and a workshop. However, I have been briefed that the money that was allocated wasn’t enough and the workshop was not completed,” she added.

Hon Babalanda contributed 10M shillings and cited that such institutes provide knowledge and skills to children, something which addresses the challenges of among others unemployment, criminality and unguided political activities.

“I want to commend the Ministry of Education and Sports for the work done in this region. Such Technical Institutes provide knowledge and skills to the less privileged children and they address the challenge of unemployment which is one of the drivers to youth engagement in criminality and unguided political activities,” Hon. Babalanda emphasized.

Babalanda also appreciated Mr. Daniel Kakaire who in 2018 linked an Austrian Non-Governmental Organization to the Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejjinja(RIP) and they were able to launch a modern carpentry workshop and tender in a request to support Busesa Technical Institute. She challenged Basoga who are in the diaspora and those outside Busoga to pick lessons from Mr. Kakaire to make friends that can promote developments back home.

“I’m told the donors from Austria have brought high-class machines for this workshop and we’re fighting to complete the workshop before they can install the machine. They include machines which can produce bricks ready for construction,” she noted after introducing a number of workers from her office who contributed towards the cause including the RDC Secretariat head Ms Martha Asiimwe who attended and contributed 5M shillings.

The woman MP Bugweri district Hon Racheal Magoola commended the late Kivejjinja for leaving a good legacy in Bugweri after emphasizing real sustainable development projects like in schools, health centres stating that the technical institute will serve people in Bugweri forever.

“…that’s why he emphasized real sustainable development in whatever he initiated like schools, health centres which continue to serve us and this technical institute will serve us forever and ever. That’s what they call legacy, you die and the people behind can continue benefitting from what you initiated,” Hon Magoola commended. 

She also led an observation of a moment of silence for the deceased before commending the Austrian friends for partnering to develop Bugweri after bringing a container of machines which will be used in the workshop.

“We thank you so much because the things you have put in that container are worth millions of shillings and what you have invested in the people of Bugweri is something that is going to last from now until our great-grandchildren. We will all be gone but what you’re giving us today is going to do more for the young generation as you can see that we have children in plenty who need what to do,” Ms Magoola added.

Speaking to the project coordinator for projects which were left by the late Kivejjinja, Mr Daniel Kakaire, says the machines were brought by their Austrian friends and they decided not to wait for money from the government which may delay but to launch a drive to fundraise 65 million for completion. He says that the late Kivejjinja died before starting Minani primary school, Minani health centre was halfway done, the district headquarters was at foundation level and now the technical institute. 

“We have challenges in clearing things coming from abroad since taxes are high, so if there is a way gov’t can change the system and we receive these things without taxation will help us. It’s not good to tax someone giving you a donation,” Mr. Kakaire said.

The chairperson Ibulanku sub county Mr Ndhoga Ibrahim commended Hon Magoola for leading other leaders to complete the project and strongly condemned the leaders in the district who shunned the fundraising without clear reasons. He said that it hurts when a dead person can be commended for leaving a legacy when the living incumbents don’t have anything to show emphasizing that, “some leaders in Bugweri are fighting our proposal to have Bugweri split into three constituencies where each can benefit with a technical institute.”

The function was attended by Major Martha Asiimwe, Head RDC Secretariat, RDC Kamuli Ms Rose Birungi and her deputy Ms Rose Kasadha, RDC Iganga Mr Wandera Sadala, Deputy RDC Luuka district Mr Waiswa Paul alias Bweni Bwamwiko, RDC Bugweri Ms Janet Billy Mulindwa and her deputy Mr Dauda Kato, RDC Busia district Mr Kibwika Michael, LCV Bugweri Hajji Muziransa Shafiq and his leadership, among others.