By Henry Sekanjako October 20, 2014

The United States (U.S) government has commended Uganda for its long-term partnership between U.S Peace Corps and the Ugandan people which has enabled Peace Corps volunteers facilitate transformative changes in the lives of local communities  and building capacity to empower Ugandans better their lives. The Peace Corps program is a volunteer program run by the U.S government. The program in Uganda is one of the largest in Africa with 160 volunteers currently serving across the country.

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“This long-lasting relationship is made possible by countless Ugandan colleagues, supervisors and supporters who welcome Peace Corps Volunteers into their communities and work in partnership with them to build a brighter future for Uganda,” said   Scott Delisi the U.S ambassador to Uganda.

 Speaking at his residence in Kololo during celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the US Peace Corps in Uganda recently, Delisi said over 1,400 American Peace Corps volunteers have served in Uganda since 1964 under the health, education and agricultural programs.
He noted that currently over 160 Peace Corps are working in Uganda to enrich the lives of the communities in which they serve.

“Peace Corps chose Uganda as one of the three countries to pilot a new Peace Corps global health services partnership which places medical doctors and nurses in teaching hospitals around the country. These professionals are supporting specialized training in Surgery and family medicine in Uganda,” said Delisi.
One of the pioneer beneficiaries of the program in Uganda   the inspector general of Police Gen Kale Kayihura who was the chief  guest at the celebrations , praised the U.S government for the Peace Corps program saying it changed many lives of Ugandans.
Kayihura who was taught by some of the U.S Peace Corps volunteers at Mutolere Secondary School in western Uganda during the year 1972 said under the program, the U.S has offered quality education to Ugandans.

“I am a living testimony to your work. I was oriented towards the arts subjects but when the corps came, Carl who was teaching us Chemistry made it so easy for us,” Kayihura recalled.
He added that; “The American approach to teaching science is to simplify things, which should be a lesson to the Ministry of Education here.”
Kayihura also praised his former teacher a U.S Peace Corps volunteer Carl Muhlhausen whom he met at the celebrations after 22 years. Carl taught Kayihura chemistry and Physics while at Mutolere secondary school.

The Peace Corps established a presence in Uganda at the request of the Ugandan government in 1964. On November 16, the same year, the first group of 38 Peace Corps volunteers arrived to begin services working with secondary schools.
Over the years, many hundreds of thousands of Ugandans have been touched by the work of Peace Corps volunteers through education, health and agricultural services.