The government is set to extend free tertiary education to every parish across the country, aiming to equip students with practical skills and combat unemployment.

This was confirmed by State Minister for Higher Education, Dr. John Chrystom Muyingo, during the 25th anniversary celebration of Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education Mengo on July 24, 2024.

Muyingo further urged the public to support government programs, especially those in the education sector, because they are meant to address the high unemployment rates in the country.

At the same event, Buganda’s Minister for Education, Cotilda Nakate, emphasized that the Kingdom’s education initiatives are also continuing to expand to contribute to overall development because the institute is partnering with other institutions.

The government has focused on expanding access to primary and secondary education through initiatives like Universal Primary Education (UPE), launched in 1997, and Universal Secondary Education (USE), introduced in 2007.

These programs are aimed at increasing enrollment and improving educational access for all children in Uganda, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Significant progress has been made in primary and secondary education, but the transition to tertiary education remains limited.

Each year, approximately 60,000 to 70,000 students qualify for higher education after completing secondary school, but only about 35% of them can secure places at the available universities due to capacity constraints. The creation of tertiary institutes in every parish is expected to solve this issue.