As the new year starts rolling, leaders at various levels in a cross section of sectors, education, business, religion, health, society and others have pointed out areas with loopholes and those in need of redirection and adjustments to ensure agreeable service delivery in 2025.
Here below are a few quotations:
John Chrysostom Muyingo, the State Minister for Higher Education: We are going to ensure enforcement of laws that ensure all children access quality education. A law is in the offing, making it mandatory for parents to take their children to school at all costs.
Parents who cannot afford private school fees should take their children to government-aided schools with universal primary/secondary education. A system of extending loans payable after education is to be implemented. 113 schools countrywide are going to be constructed and a total of 6,000 teachers are to be recruited.
Betty Ethel Naluyima, Wakiso Woman MP: This is the year for nominations ahead of elections, I wish authorities to ensure we have peaceful campaigns. Let the sitting government ensure security for people to elect leaders of their choice.
Israel Kazibwe Kitooke, Spokesperson for Buganda Kingdom: Buganda Kingdom has a development plan running up to 2028, under which a number of social undertakings are to be tackled. Included herein is popularisation of coffee growing under the ‘Emmwanyi Terimba’ programme, and under this one, the kingdom is going to provide tractors for mechanisation of agriculture.
Kindergartens and hospitals in different parts of the kingdom are going to be constructed. The kingdom is going to build a fast website that is able to disseminate information to communities in a timely manner.
Josephine Kasaato, the President of the Mothers’ Union in Buganda region: Our wish is to witness all round physical and spiritual development in 2025, with parents intensifying bringing up children with knowledge and adherence to their religions. Let people strive to register development in their homes and avoid divisive politics.
Sophia Namutebi ‘Maama Fiina’, head of traditional leaders: Child sacrifice cases which we had brought under control have tended to escalate in 2024, and our resolve this year is to liaise with security agents to crack down on fake healers.
Some healers have the tendency of lying to hypertensive and diabetic patients that they are under spells by bad hearted people with the intention of fleecing them of their money. Again, we have no authority to admit patients in our shrines.
Thadius Musoke, Chairman for KACITA: A lot of divisions in 2024 have led us to immeasurable losses. Let 2025 be a year of unity amongst us, we need to have a strong voice to issue our concerns, and we need a commercial bank which understands our working conditions.
Julius Mucunguzi, Electoral Commission spokesperson: This is a very important year with a lot of undertakings in preparation for next year’s elections. I appeal to all Ugandans to participate in the voter register update exercise.
Elections should not be a life and death matter, let us remain peaceful because Uganda is home to all of us.
Isaac Ssemakadde, President of the Uganda Law Society: To me, this is going to be a year of action. I am going to lead lawyers in the battle against all forms of injustices.
I want the supreme court to issue a ruling in a case where the government is contesting Michael Kabaziguruka’s win in a case against trial of civilians in a court martial.
Issa Ssekitto, KACITA Spokesperson: I want the government this year to streamline VAT payment under the EFRIS system, because they have had enough time to investigate and establish our suffering. We want traders to emphasize adding value to their products because this is the government’s objective.
Muwada Nkunyingi, Kyadondo East MP: Ugandans working abroad need to be cared for and immediately assisted when they get into problems. It’s high time Uganda got a basic minimum wage.
Augustine Kizito Mutumba, the chairperson for Buganda Clan Leaders Council: We appeal to our grandchildren to have unity in their homes, so that the nation may have peace. Unity is going to be a strong weapon in protecting our wealth. And be dedicated workers.