Muyingo appointed acting education minister, calls for quality in medical training

26 June 2026, 11:23 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Crysostom Muyingo, as the Acting Minister of Education and Sports.

In a letter released by the Presidential Press Unit, the President confirmed that Hon. Muyingo’s appointment takes effect immediately. The appointment follows the temporary absence of the substantive minister, who is yet to fully recover, according to President Museveni’s remarks during the 78th birthday celebration of First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Acting Minister of Education and Sports has called on medical training institutions across Uganda to uphold strict quality standards in the training of health professionals, warning against admitting more students than they have the capacity to effectively train and supervise.

Dr. Muyingo made the remarks during an inspection tour of health training institutions in Mbale City, including Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mbale College of Health Sciences, and Mbale School of Hygiene. The visit coincided with the ongoing final examinations administered by the Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB).

The examinations, which began on June 15, 2026, are expected to conclude on June 26, 2026. The inspection was intended to assess the conduct of the examinations and evaluate the preparedness of institutions hosting the candidates.

Dr. Muyingo emphasized that while expanding access to medical education remains important, institutions must not compromise the quality of training. He noted that producing competent health workers is essential for strengthening Uganda’s healthcare system and improving the delivery of quality healthcare services across the country.

The Acting Minister cautioned institutions against over-enrolling students beyond their available capacity, stressing that adherence to established training standards and regulations is vital in producing highly skilled and professional health workers capable of meeting Uganda’s healthcare needs.

Speaking during the inspection, the Commissioner for Health Training in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Hajjat Safina Kisu Musene, said the examinations had been conducted smoothly nationwide without any reported cases of examination malpractice. She commended the Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board for maintaining high standards in the organization and administration of the national assessments.

Leaders of the institutions visited, including Ilukor Geresom of Mbale School of Hygiene, Angwelu Angushu of Mbale College of Health Sciences, and Buyo Remaliah of Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery, applauded the Ministry of Education and Sports for its continued support toward improving health training institutions.

They cited government interventions such as the construction of new infrastructure, the provision of modern buses for student transportation, and other investments aimed at creating a better learning environment for students pursuing health-related courses.

The inspection comes at a time when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has intensified his call for improved service delivery under the “Kisanja No More Sleep, Kisanja No More Corruption” agenda, emphasizing accountability, efficiency, and the effective implementation of government programmes to benefit citizens at the grassroots.

Government officials maintain that strengthening the quality of medical education remains a key pillar in building a competent health workforce capable of supporting Uganda’s healthcare system and contributing to the country’s socio-economic transformation.