STAFF REPORTER
The former Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ms. Mary Karooro Okurut, announced she will not seek re-election at the district level in the upcoming elections. Instead, she plans to invest her time in filmmaking.
“The party and general elections are coming up next year, but I won’t be participating because I am focusing on other interests, and now I have plenty of time,” she explained.
Currently serving as the Presidential Advisor on Public Relations and formerly the Woman Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District, Ms. Karooro shared her plans during a thanksgiving event at Parental Care Primary School in Bushenyi District. She stated that she intends to focus on national-level involvement, leaving local politics for others.
“I see people already starting early with political campaigns. Fortunately, I’m not part of that. For now, I’ll be here pursuing my own projects. I’m not seeking re-election at the district level but am open to opportunities at the national level,” said Ms. Karooro.
She further added, “Filmmaking is an untapped area. I want to transform the Parental Care School drama group into a film production team because combining education with co-curricular activities has proven successful for many.”
Ms. Karooro also spoke about the government’s efforts to align the thematic education system in primary schools with the new lower secondary school curriculum, aiming to equip learners with skills that promote self-employment and sustainability.
Ms. Elivadah Nshemerirwe, the school director, reflected on the school’s journey since its establishment in 1988 as a nursery school. She emphasized their commitment to providing quality education that meets community expectations, noting that many of the school’s programs align with ministry standards.
“We started as a nursery school and have gradually grown, earning the community’s trust. Over the past ten to fifteen years, we have represented the district nationally and Uganda internationally in debates and spelling competitions,” Ms. Nshemerirwe shared.
Mr. Perez Basiime, the head teacher, highlighted the school’s outstanding performance over the last eleven years, with 540 candidates sitting for exams, 537 achieving Division One, and only 3 in Division Two. The school has consistently ranked among the best nationwide in Uganda National Examinations.
“Although the school faces challenges such as limited space for expansion and funding shortages, we have managed to maintain excellent results each year,” said Mr. Basiime.
The Bushenyi District Principal Inspector of Schools, Mr. Michael Mitigi, added that the department has made efforts to enhance the welfare of both private and government teachers to encourage high performance.
“The government has recently improved the welfare of teachers, particularly those in the sciences. However, we face the issue of science teachers retiring early after receiving substantial salaries. I urge teachers in private institutions to adhere to professional ethics,” Mr. Mitigi said.
Caption: Ms. Mary Karooro Okurut, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Public Relations, speaks at Parental Nursery and Primary School in Bushenyi during a thanksgiving ceremony held at the school premises in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality.
