By Peter Abaanabasazi
Parents from vulnerable areas in Hoima and Kikuube districts have a reason to smile after their children qualified for education bursaries.
The beneficiaries are part of 184 learners from different families receiving education support from the Dr Patrick Isingoma Mwesigwa Development Foundation.
The foundation was initiated by Dr Patrick Isingoma Mwesigwa, the Hoima City East Division MP after several parents sought help from lawmakers to educate their children.
Deogratius Byabagambi, the former Hoima district inspector of schools, also the chairperson of the committee charged with the selection of beneficiaries, said the initiative has so far benefited over 300 children both from primary and secondary schools, university and tertiary institutions since its inception last year.
He noted that last year, only 120 learners qualified for bursaries while this year, 184 were selected.
Byabagambi noted they are overwhelmed with the number of parents seeking support to educate their children under this program, adding that this year, they received 400 applications.
He noted that in selection, they considered children from the most vulnerable families, to benefit from the initiative.
“The number is overwhelming. Last year, we received 400 applications but the committee selected only 184 children from the most vulnerable homes. We visited their homes, interviewed the village chairperson, and the data we collected showed that parents of these children were vulnerable financially and they could not support the education of their children,” he said.
While handing over sh16.1m to the committee for the next academic term at his office in Hoima city on Wednesday, May 3, Dr Mwesigwa said the beneficiaries were not picked only from his constituency.
He noted that several beneficiaries are from Kikuube district, adding that last year, sh30m was injected into the initiative and they expect to spend sh50 million this year.
Mwesigwa explained that the program was initiated to help vulnerable children attain education and also to use it as a tool for promoting education.
He said that there is a need for parents to prioritise the education of their children as one way of advocating for development.
Fred Kasangaki a parent from Butebere ward in Hoima East Division, commended the lawmaker for the initiative, saying that by the time the initiative started, he had a child who was seated at home after he completed senior four because of financial challenges.
He said that because of the initiative, his child was admitted to St Simon Vocational Institute where he is pursuing electrical engineering.
“My child missed the first semester because I had no money. As you know, most of us are peasants; you get money this season, and the next season you make a loss and find that you cannot pay the fees of the children. I am thankful to our MP that when I went to his office, he never let me down. They accepted to support my child and he is now studying,” he said.
Hellene Kemigisa, a student at Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery from Muhwiju village in Buhimba sub-county, in Kikuube district, commended Mwesigwa for not limiting the bursaries.
She noted that the initiative has helped her pursue her course, adding that she will be completing her nursing studies this December.
“If you had not given me this opportunity, I would have been in the village, but now, I am happy that I’m in my final year. I want to thank you and I’m assuring you that I’m going to pass because I have never had any retake in my exams,” she said.
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