Namayingo, Uganda: The Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Mr Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu, Saturday vowed to overhaul Uganda’s education system by adopting a holistic model anchored on what he called the four “A’s” (Academics, Athletics, Arts, and Agriculture) to ensure that every learner finds a viable path to success.
Addressing thousands of supporters in Namayingo and Bugiri districts as he concluded his Busoga sub-region campaigns, Kyagulanyi said the education system must cater for every child’s potential, noting that success should not be limited to academics alone.
“Some children may not excel academically but can thrive in Athletics, Arts, or Agriculture. Our government will prioritize an education system that empowers every child to cope with life in this country,” Kyagulanyi said, drawing applause from the crowd.
He accused the current government of allowing widespread corruption and promised to restore accountability by leveraging Uganda’s natural resources — from lakes to minerals — for national development rather than exploitation.
The 2021 presidential contender also urged Busoga residents to vote for NUP in 2026, saying their votes would mean better roads, health centers, and improved social services. “You are not voting for an individual but for a new Uganda with better services,” he emphasized.
Kyagulanyi also vowed to cut wasteful public expenditure by reducing the number of Members of Parliament, trimming ministerial appointments to 20, and curbing presidential powers. “This may not be good news to politicians but it’s good for the people,” he said.
Kyagulanyi, who was blocked from accessing Iganga Municipality on Friday, condemned the move, saying, “They sent us to village roads, but that helped us expose the poor infrastructure and poverty in the region.”
His Saturday rallies — at Bukini Primary School in Namayingo and Bugiri District Headquarters — were accessed through alternative routes under police guidance. He is expected to rest on Sunday before resuming campaigns in Buganda on Monday.
At the same event, Bukooli North MP flag bearer Ayagalaki Jamal decried the exploitation of sugarcane farmers in Busoga, saying millers reap huge profits from by-products while growers remain poor. “Our farmers deserve a fair share of what comes from sugarcane, spirits, sweets, fertilizers, and electricity,” Ayagalaki said.
Bugiri Woman MP flag bearer Rebecca Namumbya raised concerns about the lack of medical facilities at Bugiri Hospital, to which Kyagulanyi promised to channel taxpayers’ money into health service delivery instead of corruption.
In a dramatic show of party unity, Jinja North MP Hon. Isabirye David Aga Mutubu announced he would not contest as an independent after losing the NUP flag, instead stepping aside for party flag bearer Muyonjo Hussein, popularly known as Swengere.
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