IREAD hands over an Early Childhood Development and Youth Centre to Buganda
By Nantaba Immaculate
It was joy and excitement among the people of Kazo as the Institute for Rural Education and Development (IREAD), together with her partners, We LEAD, and Rotary Club of Kampala Day Break, handed over the State-of-Art Early Childhood and Youth Development Center to Buganda Kingdom. The handover which took place on the 15th of April 2022 at Kazo – Nansana Municipality was graced by Buganda’s 2nd Deputy Katikkiro, Owek. Prof. Twaha. K. Kaawaase. The function was also attended by other dignitaries who included Mengo’s Minister for Social Services Owek. Dr. Prosperous Nankindu Kavuma, the Chairperson of IREAD, Dr. Noor Jaffer, CEO of IREAD Ms. May Virji, the Deputy Mayor of Nansana Municipality, Dr. Mary Babirye Kakeeto, who led the delegation from Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education Mengo (BRIBTE) among others.
This Early Childhood and Youth Development Center is envisaged to nurture the children and youth in Uganda, particularly those from Kazo and vicinities, into a holistic person, because what a child learns in early years impacts the rest of their life. On behalf of Buganda Kingdom, Owek. Prof. Twaha Kaawaase thanked the development partners for this Center which he believes will further the Kabala’s resolve to educate His subjects. Accordingly, Prof. Kaawaase encouraged the people of Kazo to be among the first beneficiaries of the Center.
“Dear Kazo residents, I would like to let you know that this is your facility just like Madam May said. Be the first to grab the opportunities here. I would like to come back and find many kids, mothers and youths here benefiting from the facility” Prof. Kaawaase said.
Owek. Kaawaase also thanked BRIBTE for having earned the Kingdom this achievement despite the issues that surrounded their land at Kazo.
“Irrespective of the threats then, I am happy that your efforts have eventually earned the Kingdom this pride. I trust your competence in the management of facilities like the Center we are here to be handed in a few minutes to come. I implore you to use it as a steppingstone to widen geographical coverage in the Kingdom” Owek. Kaawaase said
Owek. Dr. Prosperous was too grateful of the achievement registered under her docket. “I am very happy to see that the journey we started on 19th January 2022 with signing the MoU between IREAD and Buganda Kingdom has finally been accomplished in only three months. I thank BRIBTE for taking up the responsibility so well.” Owek. Prosperous Nankiddu said
On behalf of IREAD, Ms. May thanked everyone who unreservedly supported them to deliver the project. In particular, May thanked the Kingdom of Buganda for having offered the land and local materials that were used to construct the Center. She implored the Kazo community to make full use of the facility since it belongs to them.
Dr. Babirye who represented the Governing Council of BRIBTE was also grateful to the partners led by IREAD, the Kingdom of Buganda and the entire community of Kazo for this development which came in handy, for it supports the main purpose for which the Kabaka started BRIBTE. In her words, Dr. Babirye said that;
“The coming of this Center is a big blessing to BRIBTE, which we hope to amplify our community outreach programs, partly as social corporate responsibility. On behalf of the governing council, we want to assure our partners that our experience of over two decades in providing similar services gives us an upper hand to prudently manage this centre on routine basis.”Dr. Babirye said
The Center will be managed by Buganda Royal Institute on behalf of the Kingdom, in collaboration with the nominees from the community and the development partners. Dr. Babirye introduced the team nominated by the Governing Council awaiting nominees from other stakeholders.