By Milton Olupot

The American Ambassador, Steven A. Browning, on Thursday swore in 48 new Peace Corps volunteers.

According to a statement from the embassy, 19 volunteers will serve as teacher trainers in core primary teacher colleges in central and eastern Uganda, while 16 will work with community-based non-governmental organisations on health issues.

The other 13 will work with organisations supporting economic development in rural areas.

Browning thanked the volunteers for their commitment and thanked the local communities for warmly-welcoming the volunteers.

Dr. Lawrence Kaggwa, the director of planning and development in the health ministry, and Donansio Zikanga Kiyundo, the assistant commissioner for secondary teacher education, received the volunteers.

The Peace Corps, an initiative of former US President John F. Kennedy marked 45 years in 2006. The first group of volunteers arrived in the country in November 1964.

The statement indicates that among the first group of teachers was Howard Moses, who taught President Yoweri Museveni chemistry. while he was in secondary school.