By Wabomba Ronnie
BUGISU
Female professionals from the Bugisu region, under their umbrella body Bakhaana BaMasaaba Association (BBA), have embarked on a tour of schools across the sub-region to promote education, environmental conservation, and girls’ empowerment.
The initiative includes tree planting, career guidance and counseling, distribution of sanitary pads, and success cards for candidates preparing for the upcoming Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations.
BBA plans to reach more than 800 schools. The program was officially launched on October 8, 2025, at Mbale Secondary School, before extending to institutions in Mbale City, Mbale District, Bududa, Manafwa, Sironko, Namisindwa, and Bulambuli.
During a visit to Destiny High School Kato, the team paid UGX 1.5 million in school fees arrears for Nabutsale Margate, a student with disabilities, provided her with UGX 400,000 in pocket money, and pledged a full A-level scholarship if she performs well in her UCE exams.
Nabutsale expressed her gratitude, saying she dreams of becoming a doctor or lecturer but had nearly dropped out of school due to financial challenges.
Irene Wasike Muwanguzi, who works with the Parish Development Model (PDM) and serves as BBA President, said the launch marks the beginning of a long-term initiative aimed at transforming the Bugisu region.
She emphasized that the association seeks to promote education, healthy living, and environmental protection while keeping children in school.
“We want to mobilize communities to eradicate poverty and drive development so that we can restore Bugisu’s lost glory,” Wasike said.
Jane Wakikona Namunane, the Secretary General of BBA and an official with the Ministry of Health, said the team used the outreach to motivate candidates, offer career guidance, train girls on proper sanitary pad use, and highlight the importance of environmental conservation. She added that the visits will continue in other districts in the coming days.
