Namutumba Woman MP Calls on Parents to Invest in Children’s Education, Not Just Property

By Barasa Richard

Namutumba District -The Woman Member of Parliament for Namutumba District, Hon. Nakisita Betty Mpongo, has called on parents to prioritise educating their children instead of focusing solely on accumulating property for their future.

Nakisita said education equips children with the knowledge, skills and values they need to become self-reliant and responsibly manage whatever property their parents may leave behind.

She made the remarks on October 4, 2026, while serving as Chief Mourner at the burial ceremony of the late Tibita Wako Vincent at Lwatama Naisamula in Ivukula Sub-county, Bukono Constituency, Namutumba District.

“Let us educate our children. Prepare your children through education instead of planning for them. When you educate a child, you prepare them for life,” Nakisita told mourners.

She said many parents work hard to acquire land, houses and other forms of wealth for their children but sometimes overlook education, which she described as an inheritance that cannot easily be taken away.

“Property without education is easily wasted, but education, with or without property, creates wealth,” she said.

Nakisita expressed concern over school dropout among children in Namutumba, particularly girls, saying early marriages, teenage pregnancies and financial challenges continue to affect children's access to education.

She urged parents to ensure that both girls and boys remain in school and called on mothers to take a leading role in promoting girl-child education.

“Educating a girl child is educating the whole nation,” she said, noting that an educated woman is better positioned to support her family, promote good health and ensure that her children also receive an education.

Nakisita said government programmes such as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) have helped expand access to education, but parents still have a critical responsibility to ensure that children remain in school.

She urged parents to provide scholastic materials, monitor their children's academic performance, offer guidance and discipline, and ensure that money intended for education is used for its purpose.

She also called on local leaders, cultural and religious leaders, teachers and LC1 chairpersons in Ivukula and Bukono to work together to identify children who have dropped out of school and support their return to education.

Nakisita further urged community leaders to report cases of child neglect and early marriage and encourage families to protect children's right to education.

Referring to the death of Tibita Wako Vincent, Nakisita reminded mourners that life is unpredictable and that the most lasting legacy parents can leave is not only land, houses or other material wealth, but children who are educated, disciplined and able to stand on their own.

She encouraged parents to invest in their children's education while they are still able to provide the necessary support.

Nakisita reaffirmed her commitment as Woman MP for Namutumba to continue advocating for improved education services in the district, including better school facilities, sanitary facilities for girls and support for needy learners.

She said she would continue engaging communities across Namutumba, including Ivukula, to promote education as a foundation for household and community development.

The burial ceremony attracted local leaders, LC officials, family members and hundreds of residents of Lwatama Naisamula who gathered to pay their last respects to the late Tibita Wako Vincent.

Residents commended Nakisita for using community engagements to promote education and address issues affecting children and families in Namutumba.