The Government of Ireland has announced a €100 million allocation to support education in the Karamoja sub-region over the next five years.

Irish government officials, along with Esther Davinia Anyakun, the Nakapiripirit District Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, conducted a visit to Moroto district on Thursday. The purpose of the visit was to inspect various projects that have been supported by the Irish government.

The team visited Kanakomol village in Nadunget Sub-County and inspected projects at Kasimeri Primary School and St. Daniel Comboni Technical Institute. Kasimeri Primary School is one of the 283 schools benefiting from Ireland’s support through UNICEF to improve education access. Ireland has assisted seven vocational institutions in Karamoja, benefiting around 3,000 individuals who have completed training, leading to improved employment and income.

Sean Fleming, Ireland’s Minister for International Development and Diaspora, has announced the approval of Ireland’s five-year mission strategy for Uganda. The Irish government plans to allocate over €100 million to development programs in Uganda over the next five years. Specifically, they will allocate €25 million, approximately 95 billion Shillings, annually to support education in the region. This strategy is aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plan and focuses on peace, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.

The mission strategy (2023-2027) will prioritize Education, Gender, Governance, Resilience, and Climate Action programs. Fleming emphasized that education is central to Ireland’s development journey, and it is essential for young people in Uganda to have access to high-quality education. He mentioned that the Irish Bursary program supports 224 young people annually in Karamoja to attend vocational training, which has allowed thousands of young people to gain valuable skills and employment.

Esther Davinia Anyakun, the Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, observed that many Karimojong children rely on the Irish aid program for their education. Anyakun encouraged the community to maximize the institutions established through Irish support as a means of transformation.

She also revealed that bursaries and school feeding programs have motivated more students to pursue education, a significant achievement for the region. Anyakun urged parents to utilize support from partners to promote education as the primary tool to combat poverty in their households.

Local leaders in the Moroto district expressed their gratitude to the Irish government and pledged to collaborate to ensure the programs have a visible impact on the community. David Koryang, the LC5 chairperson of Moroto district, stated their commitment to support the implementation of Irish Aid programs for better results. Koryang requested partners to cooperate in addressing the effects of climate change, which has hindered regional development.

He observed that due to food scarcity caused by prolonged dry spells, insecurity has increased, affecting education, as both learners and teachers live in fear. Koryang appealed for support in the peace-building process to enable communities to embrace education and improve food production in their households. Justin Tuko, the Moroto Deputy Resident District Commissioner, commended the Irish government for their support, highlighting significant improvements in health, education, and other areas in the region.

Tuko acknowledged the government’s efforts to combat barriers such as alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, and insecurity, which have contributed to poverty in households. Tuko recognized that many school-going children are still confined to villages and kraals, urging partners to ensure they receive support and enrollment in schools.