Bill Clinton visits school in Wakiso

By Raymond Baguma

Former US President Bill Clinton on Friday toured a school funded under his initiative through the US non-governmental organization (NGO) called Building Tomorrow.

The Building Tomorrow Academy Gita, one of the academies established by the organization to provide education to underserved rural areas of Uganda.

The NGO is partnering with the Clinton Foundation and has since 2006 built 14 primary schools in rural areas of Lwengo, Mpigi, Lyantonde, Mukono, Kiboga, Wakiso, Luwero and Lamwo districts, and is aiming at building a total of 60 schools by 2016.

The primary schools are under the government-initiated Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme and their construction is funded by American students.

Clinton, accompanied by his daughter Chelsea, visited the school which is located in Kigogwa, Wakiso district where he interacted with parents, children and the local community during a brief event.

Clinton, 65, was last in Uganda in 1998 when he was still a serving President of US. Together with his daughter, the two planted trees in the school’s compound.

In a brief speech, he told the gathering, “It is good to be back in Uganda. The President (Museveni) and I have been working mostly in health to build a healthcare system and elimination of AIDS and malaria.”

He added, “I hope we are supporting Uganda’s progress and helping young boys and girls to live their dreams.”

During his visit, the former President toured the classes accompanied by George Srour, the founder of Building Tomorrow Academies, Joseph Kaliisa the heads the NGO in Uganda.

Clinton arrived in Uganda on a private trip on Thursday. He was yesterday expected to tour other projects that include the CHAI National Medical Store and Prescription Distribution Center in Entebbe. He was been on an African tour since July 15, has been to: South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda.