Education
Vision Group, Irish Embassy flag off 12 teachers to Ireland
“Allow me to congratulate the Teachers Making a Difference. The 1,000 teachers selected are not the only teachers making a difference. There are many others who may never even get into a newspaper, but who are quietly and progressively changing lives,” Turyagyenda said.
The teachers will be hosted by Mary Immaculate College, a teacher education institution in Limerick, where Turyagyenda also studied. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
By: Rhyman Agaba, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - Vision Group, the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda and the Ministry of Education and Sports have flagged off 12 teachers selected under the Teachers Making a Difference programme for an eight-day study and exposure visit to Ireland.
The teachers, drawn from different parts of Uganda, are scheduled to depart on Saturday for a programme that will expose them to Ireland's education system, culture and teacher-training practices.
Turyagyenda encouraged the teachers to use the opportunity to learn from Ireland while remaining open to new ideas. (All Photos by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
The flag-off ceremony was held at the Irish Embassy in Kampala on September 25, 2026, and was presided over by the Ministry of Education and Sports permanent secretary, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, who was the chief guest.
The delegation was flagged off by Turyagyenda, Vision Group chief executive officer (CEO) Don Wanyama and Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda Mags Gaynor.
The trip is part of the Teachers Making a Difference 2025 programme, which recognises teachers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving learning and supporting their school communities.
Turyagyenda congratulated the teachers, saying their recognition should also remind them that many other educators across Uganda are making a difference, even if their work does not receive public attention.
“Allow me to congratulate the Teachers Making a Difference. The 1,000 teachers selected are not the only teachers making a difference. There are many others who may never even get into a newspaper, but who are quietly and progressively changing lives,” she said.
Turyagyenda encouraged the teachers to use the opportunity to learn from Ireland while remaining open to new ideas.
“As you travel to Ireland, I encourage you to go with an open mind. Be willing to unlearn some of the things you thought you knew, and be willing to learn and relearn. When you do that, you will come back a completely different person,” she said.
Wanyama urged the teachers to treat the visit as a learning opportunity rather than simply a trip abroad.
“So, go as students, with an open mind and a thirst for new ideas. Ask the relevant questions. Take detailed notes. When you see something that works better, or that can be adapted to our situation, note it down, bring it home, and put it into practice,” he said
He challenged them to return with ideas that could benefit their schools and communities.
“Come home sharper and louder than you left, so that district officials, your colleagues, parents and communities are the ones telling us about the impact of this programme. Only then will we know it was a worthwhile investment,” Wanyama said.
He reminded the teachers that their selection placed an additional responsibility on them to represent Uganda and the programme professionally.
“You were chosen from among hundreds of other colleagues. You are, therefore, our ambassadors. Carry yourselves with dignity and a high level of professionalism,” he said.
Wanyama commended the Ministry of Education and Sports for providing political and technical guidance to the programme since its inception.
He explained that the initiative did not begin as a travel programme but was started in April 2008 under Vision Group's Ugandans Making a Difference initiative.
The programme was based on the idea that some of the country's most important contributors are ordinary people whose work transforms the lives of others without necessarily attracting national attention.
According to Wanyama, nearly 1,000 teachers have so far been profiled through Vision Group's media platforms, with 144 recognised for going beyond their routine responsibilities to make a difference in the lives of learners and their school communities.
The Irish Ambassador to Uganda, Gaynor, commended Vision Group, particularly Wanyama, Vision Foundation manager John Eremu and editor-in-chief Sidney Miria, for supporting the initiative.
She also thanked the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, for its partnership.
Gaynor said the teachers would have an opportunity to understand how Ireland's education system has adapted to demographic and social changes.
“Ireland, like Uganda, is a country that's changing quite rapidly and the education system is having to adapt,” she said.
She noted that Ireland, like Uganda, has a relatively young population and has had to respond to changes in the number and needs of learners entering the education system.
The teachers will be hosted by Mary Immaculate College, a teacher education institution in Limerick, where Turyagyenda also studied.
“You'll really learn a lot about Irish culture and Irish education,” Gaynor told the teachers.
She said the programme would also allow the teachers to exchange experiences and gain new perspectives.
“You will deepen your expertise, exposure, exchanging your experiences, getting insights into Irish education and Irish culture,” she said.
The 12 teachers travelling to Ireland are
▪️Alice Mary Baruga Birungi, head teacher of Bombo Army Secondary School in Luwero district
▪️Elisa Mfitundinda of Muramba Seed School in Kisoro district
▪️John Bosco Loibok of Karenga Boys Primary School in Karenga
He explained that the initiative did not begin as a travel programme but was started in April 2008 under Vision Group's Ugandans Making a Difference initiative.
The programme was based on the idea that some of the country's most important contributors are ordinary people whose work transforms the lives of others without necessarily attracting national attention.
According to Wanyama, nearly 1,000 teachers have so far been profiled through Vision Group's media platforms, with 144 recognised for going beyond their routine responsibilities to make a difference in the lives of learners and their school communities.
The Irish Ambassador to Uganda, Gaynor, commended Vision Group, particularly Wanyama, Vision Foundation manager John Eremu and editor-in-chief Sidney Miria, for supporting the initiative.
She also thanked the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, for its partnership.
Gaynor said the teachers would have an opportunity to understand how Ireland's education system has adapted to demographic and social changes.
“Ireland, like Uganda, is a country that's changing quite rapidly and the education system is having to adapt,” she said.
She noted that Ireland, like Uganda, has a relatively young population and has had to respond to changes in the number and needs of learners entering the education system.
The teachers will be hosted by Mary Immaculate College, a teacher education institution in Limerick, where Turyagyenda also studied.
“You'll really learn a lot about Irish culture and Irish education,” Gaynor told the teachers.
She said the programme would also allow the teachers to exchange experiences and gain new perspectives.
“You will deepen your expertise, exposure, exchanging your experiences, getting insights into Irish education and Irish culture,” she said.
The 12 teachers travelling to Ireland are
▪️Alice Mary Baruga Birungi, head teacher of Bombo Army Secondary School in Luwero district
▪️Elisa Mfitundinda of Muramba Seed School in Kisoro district
▪️John Bosco Loibok of Karenga Boys Primary School in Karenga
▪️Richard Begura of Immaculate Heart Girls' School in Rukungiri
▪️ Anna Lomonyang of Kangole Boys Primary School in Napak district
▪️Arafat Chemasuet Ndiwa of Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat district
▪️Stella Ejang of St Katherine Secondary School in Lira
▪️Tairi Fungaro of Yumbe Primary School in Yumbe district
▪️Morris Wamuwaya of Nabumali Boarding Primary School
▪️Aisha Mbeya of Nalubaale Secondary School; Florence Nabasumba of St Peter's Nantabulirwa Primary School in Mukono; and
▪️Job Afeku of Yoro Primary School in Adjumani.
Birungi, who is the head teacher of Bombo Army Secondary School, said she was excited about the opportunity to learn from the Irish education system.
She said several Members of Parliament visited her school the previous week and were impressed by its work.
“Over 82 schools have so far come to benchmark on our school's success,” Birungi said.
She added that the school provides scholarships to more than 150 disadvantaged learners.
“I want to get a global touch so that I become much more innovative,” she said.
The travelling teachers were also encouraged by the experience of Francis Sematimba Nsubuga, head teacher of St Maria Goretti Mpugwe Primary School in Masaka City and an alumnus of the 2023 cohort.
Nsubuga said participation in the programme had contributed to his professional growth and opened up new opportunities.
He said he later won a district-level teacher award in Masaka.
“Two months ago, my school won the best greening school in Uganda, where New Vision was also acknowledged,” he said.
The teachers will be accompanied by officials from Vision Group and the Ministry of Education and Sports during the Ireland visit.
▪️ Anna Lomonyang of Kangole Boys Primary School in Napak district
▪️Arafat Chemasuet Ndiwa of Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat district
▪️Stella Ejang of St Katherine Secondary School in Lira
▪️Tairi Fungaro of Yumbe Primary School in Yumbe district
▪️Morris Wamuwaya of Nabumali Boarding Primary School
▪️Aisha Mbeya of Nalubaale Secondary School; Florence Nabasumba of St Peter's Nantabulirwa Primary School in Mukono; and
▪️Job Afeku of Yoro Primary School in Adjumani.
Birungi, who is the head teacher of Bombo Army Secondary School, said she was excited about the opportunity to learn from the Irish education system.
She said several Members of Parliament visited her school the previous week and were impressed by its work.
“Over 82 schools have so far come to benchmark on our school's success,” Birungi said.
She added that the school provides scholarships to more than 150 disadvantaged learners.
“I want to get a global touch so that I become much more innovative,” she said.
The travelling teachers were also encouraged by the experience of Francis Sematimba Nsubuga, head teacher of St Maria Goretti Mpugwe Primary School in Masaka City and an alumnus of the 2023 cohort.
Nsubuga said participation in the programme had contributed to his professional growth and opened up new opportunities.
He said he later won a district-level teacher award in Masaka.
“Two months ago, my school won the best greening school in Uganda, where New Vision was also acknowledged,” he said.
The teachers will be accompanied by officials from Vision Group and the Ministry of Education and Sports during the Ireland visit.