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Is Holiday Teaching or Coaching ReallyNecessary?
Thr 20th AUG 2026By Jackson Mulawa KyageraSkills in the Classroom Could Help Keep Busoga Children in School
By Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief, The Pearl Publications
As schools close for holidays, a familiar debate returns to homes and communities across Uganda: Is holiday teaching or coaching really necessary? For many parents, holiday lessons are seen as an opportunity to help children strengthen their academic performance, catch up on difficult subjects and prepare for the next term. However, the growing pressure on learners to spend almost every school break in classrooms raises important questions about whether children are being given enough time to rest, play, discover their interests and simply enjoy being young.
There is no doubt that additional academic support can be valuable when it is carefully planned and genuinely responds to a learner's needs. A child struggling with mathematics, reading or another subject may benefit from focused coaching, particularly when it is provided by a competent teacher and conducted in a supportive environment. Holiday programmes can also help learners who have fallen behind to regain confidence and prepare gradually for the challenges of a new school term.
However, holiday teaching should not become an extension of the normal school timetable. Children need rest just as adults do. After months of lessons, examinations, assignments and school routines, a meaningful break can help learners recover mentally and physically. Excessive academic pressure during holidays may leave some children exhausted and frustrated rather than motivated to learn.
Parents and educators therefore need to distinguish between purposeful learning and unnecessary academic pressure. Learning does not only take place in a classroom. Reading a book at home, visiting a historical or cultural site, helping with household responsibilities, participating in sports, learning a practical skill, engaging in creative activities or spending quality time with family can all contribute to a child's development.
The question should therefore not simply be whether holiday coaching is necessary, but why it is being offered, who needs it and how it is being conducted. A child preparing for a major examination may reasonably require additional coaching, while another learner may benefit more from rest and informal learning. Treating every child in exactly the same way risks turning education into a race rather than a journey of discovery.
There is also a responsibility on schools and teachers to avoid creating a culture in which parents feel that their children will automatically fall behind unless they pay for holiday lessons. Education should be about developing knowledge, skills, character and curiosity—not simply accumulating marks. Where holiday programmes are offered, they should be transparent, affordable, age-appropriate and designed around the genuine educational needs of learners.
Ugandan parents also have an important role to play. Instead of asking only, “How many subjects will my child study during the holiday?”, they might ask, “What does my child need most during this break?” For some children, the answer may be academic support. For others, it may be sleep, recreation, family interaction, reading, creativity or exposure to the world beyond the classroom.
Ultimately, holiday teaching is neither completely necessary nor completely unnecessary. Its value depends on the individual learner, the purpose of the programme and the balance between academic development and wellbeing. A good holiday should leave a child refreshed, curious and ready to learn—not exhausted before the new term has even begun.
As a society, we should therefore rethink the meaning of a school holiday. Education does not stop when the classroom door closes, but neither should childhood be confined to the classroom. The best approach may be one that combines purposeful learning with sufficient rest, play, family time and practical experiences.
Jackson Mulawa Kyagera is the Editorial Chief of The Pearl Publications (TPP).
Skills in the Classroom Could Help Keep Busoga Children in School.
jackson Mulawa kyagera
Editorial Chief The Pearl Publications
Thur 20th AUG 2026
Across Busoga, the classroom is increasingly being challenged to become more than a place where children memorise lessons and prepare for
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Across Busoga, the classroom is increasingly being challenged to become more than a place where children memorise lessons and prepare for examinations. For many young people, particularly those growing up in communities where household incomes remain limited, education must also provide practical skills that can help them see a future beyond school. A child who learns tailoring, agriculture, carpentry, ICT, mechanics, entrepreneurship, cooking, crafts or other employable skills may begin to understand that education can translate into opportunity. This is particularly important in parts of Busoga where school dropout remains a concern and where teenage pregnancy continues to disrupt the education of girls. In districts such as Kamuli and Mayuge, communities have repeatedly raised concerns about girls leaving school because of early pregnancy, poverty and other social pressures. While skills training alone cannot solve these challenges, giving learners practical abilities alongside academic education could make school more relevant, strengthen confidence and help young people develop a sense of purpose.
The image of a happy Ugandan student learning and applying practical skills in the classroom should therefore become part of the conversation about the future of education in Busoga. Schools, parents, government, cultural institutions, development organisations and the private sector need to work together to ensure that children are equipped not only to pass examinations, but also to create livelihoods and solve problems in their communities. Skills education can give a young person something tangible to build upon while encouraging creativity, discipline and self-reliance. For girls especially, access to quality education, mentorship, life skills and economic opportunities can strengthen their ability to remain in school and make informed decisions about their futures. Busoga cannot afford to lose another generation of talented children because they cannot see a pathway from the classroom to a meaningful life. Education must open doors, while skills give young people the tools to walk through them. The responsibility now lies with all of us to make the classroom a place where every child can discover not only what they can learn, but also what they can become.
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Amb. Olara Otunnu Calls For Continued UN Reform And Restoration of Its Moral Authority
By Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief, The Pearl Publications
friday, 21st August 2026
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Ugandan diplomat and statesman Amb. Olara Otunnu has called for continued reform of the United Nations and the restoration of its moral authority, arguing that the world body can no longer afford to conduct business as usual at a time of growing international divisions and multiple global crises.Click For More Details ..........
Otunnu made the remarks this week in New York while engaging United Nations member states and civil society representatives as part of his campaign to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. He is among the candidates seeking to succeed António Guterres, whose second term ends at the close of 2026.
For Otunnu, however, the contest is about more than occupying the highest administrative office in the UN system. It is an opportunity, he argues, to restore confidence in an institution established to protect international peace, promote human rights and provide a platform for nations to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than conflict.
At 75, Otunnu brings decades of diplomatic and international experience to the contest.
Born in northern Uganda, he built his early political and academic career during some of the country's most difficult years. He studied at Makerere University before pursuing further education at Oxford University and Harvard Law School.
His diplomatic career took him to the United Nations, where he served as Uganda's Permanent Representative from 1980 to 1985. During that period, he served as President of the UN Security Council and Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, while also chairing important international bodies.
He later served briefly as Uganda's Minister of Foreign Affairs before returning to international diplomacy and peacebuilding.
Otunnu's connection with the United Nations became even more significant when then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed him Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict in 1997. He served in that position until 2005, leading international efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict and advocating for their recovery and reintegration.
His work earned him international recognition, including the Sydney Peace Prize in 2005 for his efforts on behalf of children affected by war.
Otunnu's current campaign is therefore rooted in experience rather than political rhetoric alone.
He has argued that reform of the UN is no longer optional but an imperative for the organisation's survival and credibility. His position comes at a time when the United Nations faces criticism over bureaucracy, institutional duplication, geopolitical divisions and questions about its ability to respond effectively to major conflicts.
Speaking during the recent dialogue with UN member states and civil society, Otunnu also stressed the need to restore the organisation's moral leadership. He invoked the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, emphasising reconciliation, hope, peace and the transformation of conflict.
His message is particularly significant at a time when wars and geopolitical rivalries continue to test the international system.
Otunnu has maintained that peace and security must remain at the centre of the UN's mission. His campaign vision also includes continued institutional reform, stronger conflict-resolution efforts, international action on climate change and consideration of how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, should be governed.
Uganda's decision to nominate Otunnu has placed the country in an unusual position on the international diplomatic stage.
For an African diplomat with previous senior experience inside the UN system to seek the organisation's top job represents a significant moment for Uganda and the wider African continent.
Yet his candidacy also faces formidable competition. The field includes former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa and Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
The selection ultimately requires the recommendation of the 15-member UN Security Council, including agreement from its five permanent members, before the General Assembly gives final approval.
Otunnu is also entering a contest in which regional rotation may favour Latin America. Nevertheless, there is no formal rule preventing an African candidate from emerging, and the final outcome will depend heavily on diplomatic negotiations and the ability of a candidate to attract broad international support.
Why Otunnu matters :-Otunnu's call for moral authority goes beyond institutional restructuring.The United Nations was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War with a fundamental promise: that nations could build a system in which disputes would be addressed collectively and future generations protected from the devastation of war.
For many observers, the credibility of that promise depends not only on the organisation's structures but also on its ability to apply its principles consistently.
Otunnu is effectively asking whether the UN can reclaim the confidence of populations that increasingly question the effectiveness of international institutions.
His answer appears to be that reform, moral leadership and a renewed commitment to peace must go together.
For Uganda, the Otunnu candidacy also presents an opportunity to place an experienced Ugandan statesman at the centre of one of the world's most consequential diplomatic contests.
Whether he ultimately secures the position remains uncertain. But his call for a reformed and morally credible United Nations has already placed Uganda's voice firmly within a global conversation about the future of international governance.
Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief
The Pearl Publications
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Friday, August 21, 2026
By Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief, The Pearl Publications
Uganda’s decision to restore a monthly allowance of Shs1 million for medical interns has brought temporary relief to hundreds of young health professionals, but it has not ended the debate over whether the amount is sufficient to support interns who work long hours in the country’s hospitals.
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The government recently suspended a proposal that would have ended facilitation for medical interns under a new policy integrating internship into the formal university education system. Cabinet subsequently resolved that the current cohort would receive a net monthly allowance of Shs1 million.
For many interns, however, the question is no longer simply whether they will be paid. It is whether Shs1 million shillings ugx is realistic compensation for the demands, responsibilities and costs associated with medical internship.
Medical internship is a critical stage between university training and full professional practice. Interns work under supervision while gaining practical experience in hospitals and other health facilities.
Their responsibilities can include attending to patients, participating in ward rounds, assisting with emergencies, preparing patients for procedures and working extended shifts.
The financial reality can be particularly difficult for interns posted away from their home districts. Rent, food, transport, professional requirements and other daily expenses can quickly consume a monthly allowance of Shs1 million.
Recent reporting has highlighted how interns rely on the allowance for basic needs, including accommodation near hospitals, transportation and meals during demanding shifts.
For a young graduate who has spent years and substantial resources completing medical education, the internship period can therefore become a difficult financial balancing act.
Medical interns have argued that the Shs1 million ugx allowance does not adequately reflect the workload and economic realities they face.
Reports indicate that interns have demanded an allowance of about Shs4 million a month, arguing that this would better correspond with the responsibilities they undertake and represent a larger proportion of the remuneration of a medical officer.
The dissatisfaction must also be understood in the context of previous government commitments.
In 2021, President Yoweri Museveni directed that medical interns should receive a substantially higher allowance. However, government later struggled to implement the proposed rate because of budgetary constraints. By 2023, government was deploying interns at a net monthly allowance of Shs1 million.
This history has contributed to frustration among medical graduates who feel that expectations have repeatedly changed while their financial burdens have continued to increase.
One million shillings ugx may appear substantial on paper, but its purchasing power depends heavily on where an intern is posted.
An intern working in Kampala, Jinja, Mbarara or another major urban centre may face considerably higher accommodation and transport costs than someone living with family in a rural community.
Some interns are also posted far from their home districts, creating additional expenses.
The Ministry of Health previously estimated the total annual cost of supporting an intern at Shs15.6 million, including the allowance and PAYE tax. That calculation was based on a gross monthly cost of Shs1.3 million to provide a net allowance of Shs1 million.
This demonstrates that the government is not only dealing with the question of the amount received by an individual intern, but also with the wider fiscal cost of sustaining the internship programme.
The debate should not be reduced to a disagreement between government and young doctors.
At the centre of the controversy is Uganda’s healthcare system and, ultimately, the patient.
Medical interns are part of the workforce providing services in hospitals across the country. Nurses' representatives have previously warned that withdrawing allowances could demoralise trainees and potentially affect the quality of care delivered in health facilities.
If interns feel financially abandoned, exhausted or undervalued, the consequences may extend beyond their personal welfare.
Uganda already faces challenges in retaining health professionals, particularly in underserved areas. A policy that makes the early professional experience financially unbearable could contribute to frustration among young professionals and encourage some to seek opportunities elsewhere.
It is important, however, to recognise the government's argument.
Uganda has experienced a growing number of medical graduates seeking internship placements. The increase has placed pressure on the health budget and the available internship positions.
Government's earlier decision to integrate internship into formal university education was partly presented as a response to these changing circumstances. Parliament subsequently raised concerns about the proposed withdrawal of allowances and called for the policy to be reviewed.
The restoration of the Shs1 million allowance for the current cohort therefore represents a compromise, but it may not be the final answer.
The debate should move beyond the question of whether interns deserve Shs1 million or Shs4 million.
Uganda needs a sustainable internship financing model that considers the actual cost of living, the location of deployment, workload, supervision, accommodation and the country's ability to retain young health professionals.
There should also be greater transparency about how internship allowances are determined and reviewed.
If government cannot immediately meet the amount demanded by interns, it should openly explain the financial limitations and work with medical associations, interns and Parliament to establish a realistic long-term framework.
Equally, medical interns have a responsibility to recognise the financial pressures facing the national health system while continuing to advocate for fair treatment through constructive and lawful engagement.
The country invests heavily in training doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals. Their internship should therefore be viewed not merely as another government expenditure, but as an investment in Uganda's future health workforce.
The Shs1 million allowance may provide immediate relief, but the dissatisfaction surrounding it shows that the underlying problem remains unresolved.
Uganda's young medical professionals are asking a fundamental question: How can they provide quality healthcare to the public when the financial conditions under which they train and serve leave them struggling to meet their own basic needs?
That question deserves serious attention.
A strong healthcare system is not built only with hospitals, medicines and equipment. It is built around the people who provide care.
If Uganda wants to retain its best young medical professionals and strengthen healthcare delivery across the country, the welfare, training and remuneration of medical interns must be treated as a national priority—not an afterthought.
Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief
The Pearl Publications
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Soroti Murder Case: Ariokot Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Killing Five-Year-Old Joan Faith Apio
SOROTI, UGANDA
Friday, August 21, 2026
By Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief, The Pearl Publications
The High Court in Soroti has sentenced Suzan Vivian Ariokot to life imprisonment for the murder of five-year-old Joan Faith Apio, bringing to a close one of the most disturbing child-murder cases to attract public attention in Soroti and beyond.
Justice Boniface Wamala delivered the sentence after convicting Ariokot, her husband Joseph Okedi and police detective corporal John Bosco Obotol for their respective roles in the death of the young pupil. Ariokot received life imprisonment, while Okedi was sentenced to 35 years and Obotol to 45 years in prison.
The court also acquitted three other accused persons former nursery head teacher James Edoket, school cook Valentine Opio and school matron Osula Adong — after finding that the prosecution had not proved their participation in the murder beyond reasonable doubt.
A case that began with the death of a child The case dates back to February 5, 2025, when Joan Faith Apio, a young pupil at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in Soroti City, was killed at the school. Reports indicate that Joan had only recently started attending the school and was just five years old.
The circumstances surrounding her death shocked the community. According to evidence presented during the trial, Joan was taken to a toilet area at the school before she was assaulted and killed.
The prosecution alleged that the killing was linked to a ritual sacrifice intended to obtain wealth, an allegation that became one of the most disturbing aspects of the case.
The court heard evidence from witnesses, including a 14-year-old pupil and Ariokot's daughter, as well as forensic and postmortem evidence. Justice Wamala found that the evidence established Ariokot's participation in the killing. Why did the victim die?Joan Faith Apio was not killed because of anything she had done.
The court's findings indicate that the child became a victim of a deliberate plan in which the perpetrators allegedly sought material wealth through a ritual killing. The prosecution described the murder as an act of extreme brutality and moral depravity.
That finding has made the case particularly painful for the people of Soroti. A child who had gone to school a place expected to provide safety, learning and protection instead became the victim of a calculated act of violence.
Justice Wamala found that the three convicted persons shared a common intention to commit the offence. The court found that although Okedi did not physically carry out the assault, he played a significant role in planning the crime, including procuring the weapon used in the killing and later attempting to cover up what had happened. Why Ariokot received life imprisonment
The court's decision to impose life imprisonment on Ariokot reflects the seriousness with which the judiciary treated her role in the murder.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty, describing the killing as exceptionally brutal. Instead, Justice Wamala sentenced Ariokot to life imprisonment the second-highest criminal punishment after the death penalty while imposing lengthy prison terms on the other two convicts.
The different sentences also demonstrate that the court considered the individual roles played by each convicted person.
For Joan's family and the wider Soroti community, the judgment represents an important moment in the search for accountability after more than a year of waiting for the case to conclude. warning about children's safety
Beyond the courtroom, the tragedy raises serious questions about child protection in schools and the responsibility of adults entrusted with children's welfare.
Parents send their children to school believing that teachers, administrators and other adults will protect them. The death of Joan Faith Apio is therefore not simply a criminal case; it is a reminder of the vulnerability of children and the responsibility of institutions to maintain safe environments.
The case should prompt schools, parents, local authorities and law-enforcement agencies to examine how children are supervised and protected, particularly in places where adults exercise authority over them.
The conviction also sends a strong message that the pursuit of wealth cannot justify the destruction of innocent life. Justice for Joan, but a lasting responsibility
The sentence cannot bring Joan back to her family. It cannot erase the pain of losing a five-year-old child or undo the events of February 5, 2025.
But the judgment establishes legal accountability for those whom the court found responsible.
For Soroti, the case should now become more than a headline about a shocking murder. It should become a national reminder that every child has a right to life, dignity, education and protection.
Joan Faith Apio went to school as a child seeking knowledge and opportunity. She never returned home.
Her story should therefore challenge Uganda to strengthen child protection systems and ensure that schools remain places of safety rather than places where children can become victims of violence.
The court has spoken. The responsibility now extends beyond the courtroom — to parents, schools, communities, police and government to ensure that the loss of Joan Faith Apio is never repeated.
Jackson Mulawa Kyagera
Editorial Chief
The Pearl Publications
