Mukono District Local Government has hailed the outstanding contribution of the Madarasa Early Childhood Program in improving the quality of early childhood education, particularly in marginalized communities. The district has pledged continued support for early childhood development initiatives, acknowledging the urgent need to train and empower more teachers in the sector.
The remarks were made by the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Mukono, Mr. Muhumuza Stephen, who represented the CAO Ms. Elizabeth Namanda, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at Mukono District Headquarters. The meeting brought together key officials, including the Inspector of Schools, Ms. Bulya Oliva, the Senior Community Development Officer Ms. Immaculate Nsangi, the Chairperson of the District Education Committee and District Councilor for Kasawo Sub- County Hon. Miiro Yashir Mpilinto, as well as representatives from the Aga Khan Foundation, the implementing partner of the Madarasa Program.
It was Launched in 2017 in Mukono District, the Madarasa Early Childhood Program was initiated to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and community-based early childhood education. It aims to ensure that all children—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—are well-prepared for a smooth transition to primary education and a foundation for lifelong learning.
Ms. Bulya Oliva, Inspector of Schools in Mukono Municipality, expressed gratitude to the Madarasa team for their consistent support to the education department. She highlighted the program’s role in organizing teacher training sessions and sponsoring educational radio talk shows during the COVID-19 lockdown, which played a crucial role in helping caregivers and teachers continue nurturing early learners during challenging times.
The Program Director of Madarasa, Mr. Ssekalala Shafik, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to share feedback and findings from their work in Mukono since 2017. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with local leadership to tackle challenges in early childhood development and called on the district to incorporate Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities into its official plans and budgets.
In his address, Mr. Muhumuza reaffirmed the district’s commitment to supporting ECD programs. He lauded the initiative by Madarasa and promised continued collaboration. “Mukono District has many teachers who still need training and support in early childhood education. We are grateful for this partnership and will also ensure that ECD centres follow established operational standards,” he said.
However, challenges still persist. Ms. Anita Namayanja, another Inspector of Schools in Mukono, raised concern over the low involvement of male parents in early childhood education. She noted the growing trend of absenteeism among parents, which undermines efforts to give children a solid educational foundation. She urged both the government and stakeholders to step up support for early childhood education and actively engage fathers in their children’s schooling
The meeting served as a reaffirmation of the vital role that Early Childhood Development plays in shaping the future of Uganda’s education system.
With support from development partners like the Aga Khan Foundation and dedication from district leadership, Mukono is poised to strengthen its commitment to inclusive and quality early childhood education.
The district leadership’s call for integration of ECD into planning and budgeting marks a progressive step toward building a more educated, empowered, and equitable society from the ground up
