46 US Peace Corps Volunteers sworn in

DIPLOMACY

KAMPALA - Forty-six US Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda have been sworn in at a ceremony presided over by Ambassador Deborah Malac at her residence in Kampala.

They are a group of 21 health and 25 agribusiness volunteers, bringing the total number of Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving in Uganda to 146.

Placed at rural health centres, the health volunteers will train and empower village health teams and community health promoters.  They will also promote access to healthcare services, with a focus on HIV, malaria, hygiene and nutrition.

On their part, the community agribusiness volunteers will contribute to the US government's Feed the Future Initiative.

They will focus on farm-to-market value chain development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and improved child nutrition, according to a statement by the US Embassy.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Malac said the event "marked another milestone in the growing partnership between the people of the United States and Uganda".

The group underwent 10 weeks of training, before they could start off work.

Peace Corps is a service opportunity for Americans to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side-by-side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation. 

The first group of volunteers arrived in Uganda in 1964, and to date, 1,700 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Uganda.