Historical Background | Mission, Aims and Objectives | Organisational Setup | Sources of Funds
Achievements and Future Plans | Nabagareka's Involvement | A Royal Appeal | Top 10 Contributors
The Kabaka's Education Fund (KEF) was first established in 1955 during the reign of Sir Edward Muteesa II, with the major purpose of helping the needy but bright students in the Kingdom of Buganda to attain higher education. Therefore, its area of emphasis was on high school certificate (HSC), the present day Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). The Fund also provided scholarships to prestigious Western Universities and some of its beneficiaries include notables such as the former Attorney General of Uganda, Mr. Abubakar Mayanja; Surgeon, Dr. Abu Kiwanuka; Engineer Abdu Kagga; Honorable Kaddu Kiberu, MP for Nakaseke; Honorable Gerald Sendaula, Minister of Finance in the Uganda Government; and many other distinguished subjects of the Kabaka. In the mid 1960's, the Fund ceased to exist due to developments on the political scene in Uganda. Education in Buganda and Uganda as a whole took a nosedive in the 1970s and 1980s.
Upon the restoration of cultural institutions in Uganda in 1993, the education situation aroused the interest of Ssaabasajja Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II; whose attention soon focused on resolving this critical state of affairs. A Minister of Education was appointed and together with the Buganda Education Commission, a situational analysis was made and the findings presented to the Kabaka on the 28th February 1998. An important resolution was made to revive the Kabaka's Education Fund; which was subsequently launched on the 26th July 1998. The Fund soon became a pivotal point in the Kingdom's education improvement efforts in light of rising education costs, increasing numbers of school going children and degenerating school infrastructure.
The Kabaka's Education Fund was established to improve the quality of life of the people of Buganda in particular, and Uganda as a whole, through high quality education that is accessible to all and relevant to the needs of the society.
The Aims and Objectives of KEF
With the revival of Kabaka's Education Fund, the Ministry of Education in Buganda Government was focused on redirecting the trend of education in the Kingdom. This became a major step in improving the quality of life of the people of Buganda in particular and Uganda as a whole through education. The aims of KEF are therefore to:
Based on the preceding aims, KEF has therefore the following objectives:
The Kabakas' Education Fund, like other institutions of the Kingdom, is by tutelage under the Kabaka of Buganda. Administratively, it falls directly under the Ministry of Education and Sports in Buganda Kingdom. The Buganda Education Commission headed by a Chairperson undertakes the day to day running of education-related activities of the Ministry of Education including Kabaka's Education Fund. In its undertakings, the Buganda Education Commission operates through the following committees:
The Buganda Education Commission is answerable to the Minister of Education and Sports, who reports to the Kabaka on all education-related matters.
The Kabaka's Education Fund, upon its launching, was enthusiastically welcomed by a cross-section of ardent education well-wishers in Buganda and Uganda as a whole. Both individuals and organisations came out to support KEF's efforts to promote quality education. The following are major resource bases of the Fund:
Scholarship Scheme
Establishment of Educational Institutions
School Assistance Programme
Sensitisation and Awareness
A complete list of Fund beneficiaries is available from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Buganda Kingdom, P.O. Box 7451, Kampala, Uganda. Phone: 273 671 or 344 169, Fax: 344 169
Future Plans
Nabagereka's Involvement in KEF Activities
The Nabagereka of Buganda fully appreciates the relevancy of Kabakas' Education Fund as a means of achieving education development. Notwithstanding, the availability of sufficient funds is important to the success of KEF's activities in its endeavour to promote quality and relevant education for the children of Uganda. In this regard, the Nabagereka has made a passionate contribution through her efforts in raising funds and other resources to support KEF.
On the 3rd March 2000, the Nabagereka organised a dinner aimed at raising funds to support KEF activities, in which event, contributions and pledges totaled over UShs.62,000,000/=. Prior to that, a sequence of preparatory meetings were held and presided over by the Nabagereka. Out of these meetings, a total of UShs.40,000,000/= was realised both in cash and in kind. This contribution has gone a long way in bolstering KEF's expanded activities, especially this year.
KEF has particular interest in the plight of disadvantaged school-going children. In this regard, the Nabagereka laid a foundation stone for the construction of a classroom block for Abayitababiri SOS Children's Orphanage. This institution is meant to provide a place of abode to orphaned children and an opportunity to have education in a sanguine environment.
In her bid to promote education, the Nabagereka's presence graced the occasion of opening the new girl's residential hall at Nkumba University on the 7th July 2000. This is in line with KEF's continued interest in promoting tertiary education and its associated institutions.
Her Majesty the Nabagereka also officiated as Chief Guest at a fund-raising drive for St. Paul's Boarding Primary School Kitagobwa on the 9th of July 2000. As part of KEF's contribution towards the rehabilitation of the school, Her Majesty made a donation of UShs.1,000,000/= (One Million); and encouraged the community to cherish and treasure education as an important pillar of development.
Conclusion
KEF has in the latest two years of its existence established itself at the forefront of Buganda Kingdom's efforts in improving the status of education in this country. This success has been due to the concerted efforts of the sovereigns in the persons of the Ssabasajja Kabaka and the Nabagereka, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the associated Education Committees. KEF has, with the hope that funds will be forthcoming, broad plans to increase efforts in education projects development in the coming years. The expectations of KEF in this direction continue to rank high in its priorities geared to enhancing the move towards 'Education for All' in this nation.
His Majesty the Kabaka urges all Baganda, friends of the Kingdom, and those who cherish the development of Buganda to generously donate towards the fund in the following avenues:
A friend/sympathiser of the Fund donating not less that UShs. 1000 (1 US$) annually.
Donors to the Fund will have their names registered against the funds donated and a numbered receipt will be given them. Already, the book for this purpose is in the Minister's Office in Bulange Mmengo. Please ensure that your children and grandchildren get a number in this book by supporting the Fund. Personalities and companies that make outstanding contributions annually, will have both the honour and privilege to register their names in the Kabaka's Golden Book and also meet His Majesty each year.
Contributor |
Amount (UShs.) |
Mukwano Industries |
10,000,000 |
United Assurance Co. |
5,000,000 |
Kampala City Council |
5,000,000 |
Bank of Uganda |
2,500,000 |
Mr. Kizza Brazio |
2,000,000 |
The NRM Secretariat |
1,000,000 |
The Monitor Publications |
1,000,000 |
Mr. And Mrs. Baagalaliwo |
1,000,000 |
National Bank of Commerce |
1,000,000 |
Kawempe Division, C/o Ssebuliba Mutumba |
700,000 |
A complete list of Fund contributors is available from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Buganda Kingdom, P.O. Box 7451, Kampala, Uganda. Phone: 273 671 or 344 169, Fax: 344 169. If you wish to make a contribution, you can make out your cheque (denominated in UShs) in the names of Kabaka's Education Fund and send it directly to the Ministry of Education at the above address. For those living abroad, the external coordinator for the Fund is Omulangira Fred Kalema-Musoke and you can send your foreign-currency-denominated donations through him. Click on his name to send him an email requesting more details.
Historical Background | Mission, Aims and Objectives | Organisational Setup | Sources of Funds
Achievements and Future Plans | Nabagareka's Involvement | A Royal Appeal | Top 10 Contributors