First Lady of Uganda praises BRAC’s initiatives in the country

The country program coordinator of BRAC Uganda, Mr. Ariful Islam met with the First Lady of Uganda Mrs. Janet Museveni on 23rd April 2009 at the State House in Kampala.

The First Lady had visited BRAC programs in Bangladesh in May 2005 and was very impressed by BRAC’s work and impact it had created in the country. Following her visit, the first lady invited BRAC to launch its programs in Uganda.

Mr. Ariful Islam explained that in answering the first lady’s call, BRAC launched its programs in Uganda in 2006. Today, BRAC Uganda has emerged as the largest NGO in the country, employing close to 1400 staff, 97% of them being Ugandan. Mr. Islam also explained how BRAC Uganda currently operates 123 offices in 37 districts across the country, impacting the lives of half a million people.

“I know BRAC is an organization that really works for the poor, and I know it can create the impact” the First Lady responded, after learning about BRAC’s achievement Uganda. Given what she has seen and the organization’s performance so far, the first lady said that she can vouch for BRAC Uganda.

The First Lady requested BRAC to launch programs to help the nomadic Karamoja community living in Northeastern Uganda. “These are the poorest people in Uganda, living in constant draught conditions. If anyone could help them, it will probably be BRAC”, she explained in making the request to BRAC. Mr. Islam assured that BRAC Uganda is keen on working with the Karamoja population and plans to provide them support for rearing livestock, as well mobile education and health services. BRAC Uganda is currently designing the project and will be seeking donor support for the program.

The meeting ended with the First Lady thanking BRAC Uganda for the work it had done in Uganda and the impact it is creating. Mr. Islam thanked the First Lady for inviting BRAC to Uganda and also for the continuing support the organization has received from the Government. He explained how this is a great model of south-south cooperation, where BRAC comes from a developing country like Uganda and has first-hand understanding of poverty. He promised that BRAC Uganda will continue to strive towards achieving Government of Uganda’s goal of ‘Prosperity for All’.