KALAGALA, LUWEERO DISTRICT — The Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. JC Muyingo, has warned parents who neglect their children’s education, saying they risk facing difficult consequences in the future for failing to fulfil their God-given responsibility of preparing their children for a better life.
Dr. Muyingo urged parents to prioritise education and make deliberate sacrifices to ensure their children acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become responsible citizens, achieve financial independence and contribute to national development.
He made the remarks at Kalagala Main Village in Luweero District, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lubowa, during a celebration organised to honour their daughter, Nakalyango Agatha, who graduated from Ndejje University with a qualification in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The minister commended parents who endure financial difficulties and make personal sacrifices to keep their children in school, describing their commitment as an investment that benefits individual families and the wider community.
He emphasised that parents should not abandon their children’s educational ambitions because of temporary challenges, urging them to explore available opportunities and work with leaders and other stakeholders to ensure their children complete their studies.
Dr. Muyingo cautioned that parents who deliberately neglect their children’s education would face difficult moments in the future because they would have failed to fulfil a fundamental responsibility entrusted to them by God.
He encouraged families to recognise education as a foundation for personal transformation, economic empowerment and sustainable development, noting that educated children are better positioned to take up leadership responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to society.
The minister’s remarks came as the Lubowa family celebrated Nakalyango’s academic achievement, which he described as an example of the value of investing in children’s education.
Nakalyango was among five students sponsored by Dr. Muyingo through his education support initiative, which has helped learners from financially disadvantaged backgrounds access educational opportunities in Bamunanika and the wider Luweero sub-region.
Through such interventions, Dr. Muyingo has continued to support learners whose families face difficulties meeting the costs of education, giving them an opportunity to pursue their academic ambitions and improve their future prospects.
During the celebration, Dr. Muyingo congratulated Nakalyango upon completing her university studies and encouraged her to use the knowledge and skills acquired to build a successful career, become financially independent and contribute to the development of her community.
As part of his support for the graduate, the minister gave her Shs2 million to help her establish an income-generating activity as she begins the next chapter of her life.
He also presented gifts to her parents in appreciation of their sacrifices and commitment to educating their daughter, recognising the important role families play in helping young people achieve academic success.
Dr. Muyingo said parents who invest in their children’s education deserve recognition because their efforts help prepare the next generation to take up professional and leadership positions while contributing to the country’s social and economic transformation.
Mr. Lubowa thanked Dr. Muyingo for championing education and supporting families in the area, saying the minister’s commitment had changed attitudes towards education and enabled more children to pursue higher learning.
Lubowa, who disclosed that he dropped out of school in Primary Four, said he had witnessed significant transformation in his own family since Dr. Muyingo became involved in promoting educational opportunities.
He explained that the minister’s support had encouraged families to value education and enabled more young people to complete their studies.
“Me, I stopped in Primary Four, but when Dr. Muyingo came into leadership, his foundation was on empowering us through education. We joined efforts, and now I have more than five graduates in my house alone. I feel changed and transformed. I am not the same man anymore,” Lubowa said.
He thanked the minister for supporting educational advancement in the community, adding that the growing number of graduates was evidence of the positive impact of investing in education.
Lubowa encouraged other parents to make education a priority and urged young people to remain focused on their studies, noting that academic achievement can open doors to opportunities that benefit entire families.
Nakalyango’s graduation in Journalism and Mass Communication marks an important milestone in her academic journey and positions her to explore opportunities in journalism, public relations, corporate communication and other related fields.
As she begins her professional journey, she is encouraged to apply her university training, pursue employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and use her experience to inspire other young people, particularly girls who face financial barriers to higher education.
The financial support extended by Dr. Muyingo is intended to help her take an initial step towards economic independence as she explores ways to generate income and build a sustainable future.
The Kalagala LC1 Chairperson, Mr. Kamunvi, used the occasion to appeal to the government to consider establishing Bamunanika District, arguing that the area now has an increasing number of educated residents capable of serving in leadership positions and contributing to different sectors.
Kamunvi said continued investment in education had strengthened the community’s human resource capacity, creating opportunities for residents to participate more actively in leadership, administration and other areas of national development.
He called for further government support to enable the area to build on the progress made in education and improve opportunities for its residents.
Dr. Muyingo’s Personal Assistant, Wasswa Abdulkarim Tamale, urged residents to put aside political differences and focus on productive work, income generation and improving the welfare of their families.
Tamale said the community should prioritise economic empowerment by engaging in productive activities that enable households to meet their needs and provide better opportunities for their children.
“The time for politics has ended; it is now time for work. Work hard and empower your families financially,” Tamale said.
He encouraged residents to embrace hard work, financial discipline and entrepreneurship, noting that economically empowered families are better positioned to support their children’s education and improve their living standards.
Dr. Muyingo also mobilised residents to take advantage of government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and supporting community development, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation.
He urged residents to participate in the programmes and use the available opportunities productively to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their household economies.
The minister called on the community to support government development initiatives under the National Resistance Movement government led by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
“Love this NRM government and love President Museveni,” Dr. Muyingo said.
He emphasised the importance of combining education with economic empowerment, saying families that invest in their children’s education and participate in productive economic activities can build stronger households and contribute to national development.
The celebration at the Lubowa family home highlighted the importance of parental sacrifice, community support and educational opportunities in transforming lives.
Nakalyango’s achievement represents not only a personal milestone but also a source of pride for her family and an example to other young people pursuing higher education.
The event reinforced Dr. Muyingo’s call for parents to fulfil their responsibility of educating their children while recognising and appreciating families that make sacrifices to ensure their children complete their studies.
It also underscored the importance of empowering graduates with practical opportunities to apply their knowledge, generate income and contribute to their communities.
Dr. Muyingo urged parents to continue prioritising education, young people to remain focused on their future, and residents to embrace available development programmes as part of broader efforts to improve household welfare and community prosperity.
