Keep education show in Jinja - First Lady
The Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni has halted plans by a section of officials in her Ministry to relocate the venue of the Annual Education Exhibition show from Jinja Show Ground to Bukalasa agricultural Institute.
In a letter dated 14th June 2024, addressed to Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze, Mrs Janet Museveni stopped move which has caused a lot of contraversy on the organisation of year's education Exhibition.
I pray this letter finds you in good health.Thank you for your letter dated 24th, 2024 forwarding a complaint from Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), the initiators of the National Agricultural Education show (NAES) over an attempt ny Ministry of Education officials to take over management of National Agricultural Show and relocate it from the usual Jinja Show ground to Bukalasa Agricultural college. Mrs Museveni letter reads
The Minister expressed no objection to the request by Frank Tumwebaze of maintaining the venue of the Agricultural show to be Jinja show ground.
I have noted your request to maintain the original purpose and location of the National Agricultural Show in Jinja, I have no objection to this and I have instructed my permanent Secretary to ensure that this is implemented" Janet Museveni's letter reads
Mrs Museveni's letter has excited a number of stakeholders in Jinja especially those who benefit directly from the annual event.
Jinja Resident City Commissioner Darius Nandinda says there was a section of officials who wanted to take used their offices to relocate the show.
"I want to state categorically clear that it was not government's position to shift the show by rather it was done on individual basis by officials in the Ministry of Education and Sports" Nandinda said
He says when government learnt of this decision it was reverse
Many stakeholders say Jinja show is very significant to the economy of Jinja
The agriculture show season, majority of people benefit either directly or indirectly including the Hospitality industry which host exhibitors, boda boda industry which transports people, vendors among others
Peter Kisambira the Jinja Show Manager says though there has been some hiccups in organisation but they are ready to host this year's event starting on 24th June
"There has been announcements going around that this year's Agriculture Exhibition show shall be held in Bukalasa but that is not true let our exhibitors know that the show shall be happening kn Jinja as ever before" Kisambira said
Last week, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga warned officials in the Ministry of Education and Sports never to start their own show at Bukalasa but never to temper with the Jinja annual event.
"I told those people in the Ministry of Education that they should organise their own show in Bukalasa if they want buy they should dessist from tempering with our Jinja agriculture Show" Kadaga told reporters at Busoga on Wednesday last week.
For the last two years Uganda National Farmers Federation has been organising an annual Agricultural Education Exhibition in Jinja for only students to enable learners exhibit and learn new technologies in Agriculture.
This complements the Traditional agricultural show which is held at the same venue.
