Kampala, Uganda: Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Muganga has called on government to leverage Uganda’s youthful and tech-savvy population by investing in digital empowerment, with a “one-child-one-gadget” policy poised to bridge the digital divide.
Speaking on NTV’s Morning@NTV show on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Dr Muganga, who has made a household name as a revolutionalist in education, said Uganda is missing a critical opportunity by not channeling resources toward technology and innovation.
“Seventy percent of our population is young, and these are tech-savvy individuals who can use technology productively. By not investing in this potential, we’re depriving ourselves of something truly valuable,” Muganga said, adding that digitally empowered youth will become a global resource, especially for aging economies like the USA and Canada.
He proposed the idea of locally assembling learning devices, saying: “As a country, is it really unrealistic or too difficult to adopt a one-child-one-gadget policy? Why not set up a factory in Namanve, import the gadget parts, and assemble them locally?”
On Uganda’s education culture, Dr. Muganga raised concerns over rising inequality and misplaced values in schools, which he says must change for the better of our country and the future generations. “We grew up knowing that having a degree made us relevant to our community and could improve our lives and those of our families and country, but that is no longer the case,” he said.
“Flying school children in helicopters just to prove they exist is far from normal. Have we considered the message this sends to a child whose parent can’t afford such displays? They may begin to feel unloved, like they don’t belong, and in trying to fit in, some may turn to drug use or other harmful behaviors,” the Prof said, critiquing excessive displays at school events.
Muganga’s remarks come against the backdrop of recently issued Ministry of Education and Sports guidelines aimed at curbing extravagant student behavior, substance abuse, and social pressure in schools.
Outlined in a circular dated May 16, 2025, the guidelines prohibit luxurious displays such as helicopter rides, luxury vehicles, and motorcycles during school events like proms and student elections so as to de-commercialize school life and restore focus to learning, discipline, and inclusion.
“These practices are putting unnecessary financial pressure on parents and eroding the values of modesty and discipline we expect from our learners,” the circular, signed by Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary, reads in part.
According to the Ministry, such school functions had increasingly become arenas for competition, with some parents spending beyond their means on non-academic events. Reports from school heads and guardians flagged rising costs and social tensions stemming from lavish events financed by hidden school charges.
The Ministry emphasized that the reforms are not just about cost containment but about redefining school culture to reduce elitism and promote a more equitable learning environment.
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