By Jumah Kakomo
The President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, is urging the government to urgently overhaul the country’s education system to address the challenges posed by the escalating youth population. Speaking at the party’s headquarters in Kampala during his end-of-year message on Wednesday, Akena stressed the need for an education model that combines both theoretical and practical learning, with a stronger focus on vocational training. He believes this approach is crucial for harnessing the potential of Uganda’s youthful demographic.
Referring to the recently released population and housing statistics, Akena highlighted that Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world. While this youth bulge offers significant potential for the country’s economic growth, Akena warned that unless the education system is revolutionized, the nation risks squandering this valuable resource.
“In order to transform this youthful energy into a productive force, we must evolve our education system,” Akena said. “We need a model that not only equips young people with academic knowledge but also provides them with practical, job-ready skills, particularly in vocational fields. This will help tackle unemployment and poverty, and create a workforce capable of driving Uganda’s development.”
Akena also criticized the current funding model for Uganda’s Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs. He pointed out that the government’s per-pupil funding of Ugx 20,000 annually for UPE and slightly higher for USE is insufficient, creating a system that churns out graduates ill-equipped to compete in a globalized economy.
“These programs are not creating global citizens but rather local graduates who are unprepared for an increasingly competitive international market,” Akena remarked.
In addition to his education reform proposals, Akena expressed deep concerns about the commercialization of politics in Uganda, particularly ahead of the 2026 general elections. He noted that the rising influence of money in the political arena has made campaigns prohibitively expensive, effectively shutting out candidates who lack financial resources.
“This growing commercialization is undermining the democratic process and making it harder for ordinary Ugandans to engage meaningfully in politics,” Akena stated. “Politics should not be about who can spend the most money but about who has the best ideas and solutions for the people.”
As a prospective candidate for the 2026 presidency, Akena warned that unless urgent reforms are made, the integrity of Uganda’s electoral process could be further compromised. He called for a collective effort from the government, the Electoral Commission, and civil society organizations to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and transparent.
“The future of Uganda’s democracy depends on the ability of all citizens to participate in the political process, regardless of their financial status,” Akena concluded.
With less than two years to the 2026 elections, both Akena’s education reform proposals and his warnings about the influence of money in politics will likely become central issues in the national political discourse.
