The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon.Janet Kataaha Museveni, hosted a ceremony at State House in Entebbe on Wednesday to honor teachers who are making a significant impact in their communities.
Twelve teachers were honored through New Vision’s “Teachers Making a Difference” program, supported by the Government of Ireland. The winners received monetary awards, educational supplies, and a grand prize of a study tour to Ireland.
The initiative recognizes teachers who go above and beyond their formal duties to serve their communities and foster innovation and dedication in education.
In her speech, Hon.Kataaha Museveni described teachers as “architects of the country’s future,” noting that they are crucial to building the human resources needed for a modern and prosperous Uganda. She said that transforming Uganda from a largely peasant economy into a modern society depends on a strong education system and dedicated teachers.
She congratulated the award winners, describing them as role models and “unsung heroes” whose work fosters a culture of excellence and better service delivery. She said the ministry values the initiative for its role in strengthening teacher capacity and leadership, and encouraged teachers nationwide to uphold professionalism, accountability, and integrity in their work.
Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni also expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for policies like Universal Primary Education (UPE), which she stated now benefits over 8.5 million students. She observed that the government later introduced Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-Primary Education and Training (UPPET) in 2007 to increase access to secondary schooling, especially for students from rural and low-income backgrounds.
Regarding reforms, she stated that the government has implemented a competence-based curriculum at the O-Level and is launching a revised A-Level curriculum to align with lower secondary reforms. She also mentioned that the government continues to improve school infrastructure, including the policy of establishing at least one secondary school per sub-county and one primary school per parish.
Hon. Kataaha Museveni praised New Vision for organizing professional development workshops for past winners, focusing on competence-based assessment and emerging trends in education management, and called the training timely and relevant. She also expressed gratitude to the Irish Ambassador to Uganda for ongoing support, noting that since 2017, the partnership has recognized over 100 teachers, with 53 benefiting from professional development programs in Ireland.
She also thanked Travelcare, a local tour company, for providing air tickets to six outstanding teachers, and announced six additional sponsorship slots for study trips to Ireland for this year’s winners.
The overall winner was Burungi Mary Alice Baruga from Bombo Army SS, who received Shs2 million, a brick-making machine, a certificate, and a study trip to Ireland. Other winners included Arafat Ndiwa from Chemisto Kala Girls Primary School in Amudat, John Bosco Loibok from Karenga Boys Primary School, Richard Begura from Immaculate Heart Girls School in Rukungiri, Aisha Mbeya from Nalubaale SS in Bugiri, Tairi Fungaro from Yumbe Primary School in Yumbe District, Anna Lomonyanga from Kangole Boys Primary School in Napak, Job Afeku from Yoro Primary School in Adjumani, Florence Nabasumba from St Peter’s Nantabulirwa Primary School in Mukono, Morris Wamuwaya from Nabumali Boarding Primary School, Elisha Mfitifundinda from Muramba Seed Secondary School in Kisoro, and Stella Ejang from St Katherine Secondary School in Lira.