President Yoweri Museveni has warned that levying examination fees as well as exacting charges on examination results slips by government schools is illegal. He described the culprits as thieves who have to be severely dealt with. The President emphasized that children in all government schools must sit for any examinations and receive all their results free of charge because government already pays these fees through the Ministry of Education and Sports The President was yesterday reacting to complaints from residents of Ngando in Mpigi district that the schools were jeopardizing the success of the Universal Primary Education programme by levying unnecessary fees per student before allowing them sit for their examinations.

“These are thieves. I want the RDC to investigate this and take action. Some people are like bugs sucking the blood of innocent people. The Movement government is here to remove all the obstacles to development especially to free education,” he said.

The President was speaking at a mammoth rally he held at Ngando open grounds in Mpigi district where he is on a two day mobilization tour for government’s Prosperity For All (PFA)programme. The programme aims at fighting household poverty to ensure food security. 

Mr. Museveni had previously visited a progressive farmer Mr. Isma Senyonga of Lungujja village, Butende Parish who earns over Shs.27million from a mixture of agro products including maize, bananas, coffee, cabbages and tomatoes production. He made a donation of Shs.3,000,000/= (three million) towards the procurement of a vehicle to help him transport his produce to the market. He urged the people to emulate progressive farmers such as Mr. Senyonga to initiate projects that can improve their welfare.

The President, who summoned the Minister of Education and Sports, Ms. Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire and the woman Member of Parliament for Mpigi district, warned head-teachers against sabotaging the UPE programme. He also directed an investigation into the demands by many schools to parents to provide reams of paper, to establish what the paper is used for.

“Government schools don’t demand for reams of paper; just exercise books, pencils and rulers. However, it is important for the parents to shoulder their responsibilities too like providing uniform, books and provide food. The problem with some of these people is that they get excited at the sound of money (Kinyegenyege), that is why they demand for all kinds of money,” he said.

Minister Namirembe Bitamazire said government pays a total of Shs.12,000/= for examination fees and for examination results slips for every student, but confirmed that there are head teachers who charge up to Shs 5,000/= for examinations and examination slips.

“It is true there are some schools which are involved in this practice and what we have found out is that some parents actually support it. However, it is illegal. I will be sending School Inspectors in districts to see how to deal with the situation,” She said.

The President put a stop to demands by health centres to patients to buy exercise books for use as patients’ medical records and prescriptions. He directed that all health facilities around the country must use government forms with carbon paper in triplicate.

“The hospitals must use government forms in triplicate, one for patients, the hospital and the other one for headquarters adding that  these must indicate names of the patient, village, etc to have proper records of patients and make proper follow ups. I have opened up a war on health workers too and I will use a two-way approach – sugar coated by increasing their salaries but also a stick to scrutinize those who steal,” he said.

The President said government will solve the scarcity of drugs in hospitals following its measures to curb thefts by labeling government drugs. He said the new Drug Monitoring Unit in his office, will follow up on various issues including proper health documentation papers, drug labeling, records, etc.

He said he was still looking for a new Permanent Secretary following the interdiction of the former PS for the Ministry of Health but will not be pressurized by what he described as the people who steal drugs at night and then turn around and pretend to be concerned during the day. “There is a struggle but we shall end it,” he said.

President Museveni also directed for the expansion of Batalunga Health facility to reduce on the numbers of patients who travel long distances to Gombe Hospital for medical assistance.

On the low cost of maize and other produce, the President announced that government is making arrangements for better pricing maize and other produce and urged farmers not to sell their produce at give away prices.

“Don’t give away your produce at low prices; you can store it for a little longer. We are making arrangements on pricing soon. We shall put an average price to help farmers,” he said.

At another rally held at Kariri, Mpenja, Bulo Sub-County, President Museveni announced his decision to re-open CBS radio, subject to fulfillment of the conditions as set out during a recent Cabinet Meeting. Mr. Museveni’s comments on CBS were prompted by the area Member of Parliament, Hon. Rose Najjemba Muyinda, who wanted the station opened. 

“The issue was introduced last week and some of the Ministers had refused the radio to be opened but I calmed them down until they agreed. However, we are tired of bad manners in Uganda especially of telling lies. CBS had gone off track and I was starting to wonder why the Kabaka had allowed ill mannered people to penetrate the radio. Government is going to give conditions for its re-opening and it’s a choice of the radio’s administrators to put them into consideration”. 

The President said that the government could not risk the country face the same experience having suffered a lot in the past.

Mr. Museveni had initially toured a NAADS supported piggery venture of Mr. Wilson Nkumbi in Nswanjere, Mpenja Sub County. He donated to him a maize miller and a feed mixer to enable him process animals’ feeds which were seemingly expensive for him.  He urged residents to put SACCOS to their use adding that it is the way to go especially now that government is funding them, with an objective of transforming them into people’s banks