By Jumah Kakomo
Uganda People’s Congress UPC has eulogized Hon. Joyce Mpanga for the grand contributions in the field of education, women affairs and politics. Making her legacy worth emulating by all especially the young generation who need such rich experience of life.
The country on Sunday 19th, November 2023 lost a gallant senior citizen, hon. Joyce Mpanga at 89 years of age. Hon. Joyce is a grand symbol of women emancipation which was a clarion call of immediate post-independence uganda.
Arach Oyat Sharon, the UPC spokesperson said that there was need for both Africanisation and Ugandanisation of civil service and she led the way as the first female Ugandan lecturer in the faculty of education at the time Prof. Yusuf Kironde Lule was the principal of Makerere college affiliated to university of London. This was to be a future projection of Uganda especially of giving the girl child a special focus in uplifting society.
Hon. Joyce Mpanga was later the first African deputy Headmistress of Gayaza high school before going overseas to advance in her studies.
At the same time, the UPC members of the council identified her extra ordinary talents, elevating her to a status of specially elected member of the assembly, one of 3 members specially elected by theUPC members of the council, was miss Joyce Masembe (later mrs. mpanga) and when she went to America for studies, the UPC elected in her place Mrs. Eseza Makumbi. This was the first time any party had introduced women into high politics and elected them to the legislature UPC birthday: The role of the UPC in Uganda’s independence by Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
She was later to serve as member of Lukiiko and a minister of women in development, 1988 – 1989. She was appointed minister of state for primary education in central government, 1989 – 1992. As a well-balanced and experienced politician, she was elected a woman member of parliament of mubende district for the tenure of 1996 – 2001
In the same way, muzeyi Faizo, the head of media and communication at UPC, has urged all students to enjoy their holidays responsibly by engaging in skillful activities since the (holidays) generate a lot excitement from the rigorous school routine work.
“To girl child, holidays are full of promises and temptations. A high degree of maturity and discipline is expected of the girl child. Failure to respect such personal values towards life, leads to early child pregnancies, which complicates continuing with education. For the boy child, some get to take over with part time jobs during holidays and find it hard to go back to school. They at times get negative influences from the society at this stage.
UPC is fully aware of all these related challenges for our children during holidays and therefore, urges parents and guardians to take a keen interest in monitoring and shaping the behavior of our children while at home. This requires commitment, sacrifice and care at both family and society levels. These are our future leaders who ought to be well molded for god and my country” said Muzeyi Faizo
