Uganda Vice President Visits BRAC in Bangladesh

Professor Gilbert Bukenya, His Excellency the Vice President of Uganda, landed in Dhaka on Thursday. The primary purpose of his trip was to visit BRAC's programs in Bangladesh, and to explore the possibilities of mutually beneficial South-South collaboration that would help Uganda achieve their Millennium Development Goals and "Prosperity for All".

A development organization operating with unprecedented scale and reach in Bangladesh, BRAC began working in Uganda only in 2006 and has swiftly become one of the largest microfinance operators in the country. As of March 2009, BRAC Uganda provided $26.3 million in microcredit loans and employs a staff of 1390 people (95% of whom are Ugandan) in its microfinance, education, health, and agricultural development programs. Consequently BRAC has a triple impact in Uganda, stimulating the local economy through microloans, employment for the local community and the economic benefits that are a product of its social services.

Vice President Bukenya is currently visiting BRAC's programs just outside Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital. During his trips he has been guided by Mr. Aminul Alam, the Executive Director of BRAC's Overseas Programmes. He also met with Bangladesh's President Zillur Rahman, who urged cooperation between the two countries to foster bilateral trade and investment. In the meeting, Mr. Bukenya praised the role that BRAC and other Bangladeshis have played in alleviating poverty in Uganda.