Mbale City, Uganda: The Umukuka of Inzu Ya Masaba has commenced a second-term tour of schools across the Bugisu sub-region aimed at promoting education, addressing challenges affecting learners and advancing campaigns against gender-based violence and defilement.
The initiative, dubbed “Umukuka’s Message to Schools,” will see cultural leaders engage learners, teachers and school administrators across Bugisu on the importance of education, discipline and community values.
Speaking to this publication, the spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Mr. Steven Masiga, said the programme seeks to encourage learners to complete the entire education cycle from primary school through secondary education and university.
“As a cultural institution, we are moving to several schools in the Bugisu region under the theme ‘Umukuka’s Message to Schools’. Our package includes encouraging exhaustion of the education curriculum from primary, secondary up to university level, while also checking on our learners who are our subjects as a cultural institution. We must give them a listening ear,” Masiga said.
He noted that the cultural institution is determined to address obstacles that hinder effective learning and academic excellence among children in the region.
Masiga revealed that the programme will also focus on sensitising learners about gender-based violence, defilement and the importance of educating the girl child.
He said Cross-Cultural Foundation Uganda and UN Women have supported the initiative through logistical assistance to facilitate outreach activities across the region.
“The message we are taking to schools includes fighting gender violence, preaching against defilement and promoting girl-child education. These are critical issues that affect the future of our communities,” he said.
The Bugisu Cultural Institution also used the opportunity to urge schools within the region to embrace the teaching of Lumasaba as a local language in order to preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the Bamasaaba people.
Masiga said language remains a vital tool in preserving culture and strengthening community values among younger generations.
During a visit to Nkonkonjeru Primary School in Mbale City, Masiga commended the school’s management for providing quality education and maintaining flexible fee payment arrangements that enable children from different backgrounds to access education.
He said the Umukuka and the entire Bugisu Cultural Institution were impressed by the school’s leadership, learners and administrators.
“We appreciate the management of Nkonkonjeru Primary School for establishing such an excellent educational facility in Mbale City that serves learners from across the country. The Umukuka and the entire Bugisu community are comfortable with the services the school is providing,” Masiga said.
The cultural institution says the school outreach programme will continue throughout the term as leaders engage learners and education stakeholders across the region.
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