First Lady Janet Museveni (C) shares a photo moment with outgoing USA ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac (2nd R) during a meeting at State House Nakasero. (L) are ministry of Education PS Alex Kakooza and Tony Lusambu

First Lady Bids Farewell to Outgoing American Ambassador

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs. Janet Museveni has expressed appreciation for the support from the American Government to Uganda’s Education Sector. The First Lady was bidding farewell to H.E Deborah Malac, the outgoing Ambassador of America to Uganda, who has completed her tour of duty in the country.

Ambassador Deborah Malac, who has worked in Uganda for close to four years, called on the First Lady on Wednesday at State House Nakasero to take leave of her. Mrs. Museveni thanked Ambassador Malac for her cordial working relationship and service to the people of Uganda. “Thank you for working with us for the four years and for your service to the people of Uganda”, she said.

She said the Education sector appreciates the projects supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cited the Early Grade Reading, which she noted has made great impact in the Districts where it is being implemented. This programme focuses on improving reading skills of the early primary grade learners (P1-P4) in three local languages (Luganda, Runyoro-Rutooro and Runyankore -Rukiga). “This is a very good programme because it makes the children who are taught in their local languages understand more and we thank you and the other development partners for it”, Mrs. Museveni said.

She guaranteed that all effort will be made by Government to expand the Early Grade reading Programme to cover other Districts. Ambassador Deborah Malac briefed the First Lady about the support from USAID to the Education sector under the Literacy and Retention Activity (LARA) project to complement the on-going interventions in the Basic Education Sub-sector to enhance learning achievements.

She said US Government shares the concern about improved quality education and training and is committed to supporting its achievement through the LARA project. She also talked about the School-Related Gender- Based Violence (SRGBV), which is another area of focus in the LARA Project and aims at promoting positive and supportive school climates through preventing and reducing incidents of school-related gender-based violence.

She also pointed out that the small national budget allocation to the Education Sector is still an issue of concern to the donors which needs to be addressed to enable easy access to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE2) funding.

Ambassador Malac appreciated the good partnership that has existed with the Ministry of Education and Sports especially under the leadership of Mrs. Janet Museveni as Minister. She said she has enjoyed working in Uganda and will miss the warm and welcoming Ugandan people and the good weather. “It has been an honour and privilege to work in Uganda”, she added.

Ambassador Malac said she has been working in Government for 40 years, 39 of which were in diplomatic service, and is going back home to retire. The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports Alex Kakooza and the Acting Commissioner Basic Education Tonny Lusambu plus Kay Leherr the Director of Education, Youth and Child Development at USAID Uganda, who accompanied the Ambassador.