Teachers Making a Difference: Uganda Teachers Visit Ireland

The award was set up in 2008 by the New Vision newspaper, a leading daily in Uganda. Since 2017 the Irish Embassy in Kampala has collaborated in public-private partnership to support the initiative.

The awards aim to encourage and motivate teachers in line with Uganda’s National Incentive Framework. The TMAD scheme also promotes a better appreciation of the teaching profession among the wider public.

Despite progress, Uganda faces enormous challenges in terms of access, equity, inadequate funding, high population growth, and high poverty rates. Approximately 1 in every 4 children (6 to 18 years) remains out of school, and an estimated 40% of children were engaged in child labour in 2020/21. Almost 95% of children enrolled in primary schools do not complete a secondary education.

The education sector in Uganda has also been impacted by global aid cuts, in particular relating to teacher salaries.

The Karamoja region, one of the least socially and economically developed parts of Uganda, is a particular focus of Ireland’s support for education. Ireland's commitment has helped improve learning outcomes for Karamoja, with literacy and numeracy proficiency rates above the national average.

This year’s itinerary has included visits to schools in Meath and Dublin, including a DEIS secondary school and an Educate Together primary school. The group also visited the Irish Aid Centre, received presentations from the Dean of Arts at Trinity College, and met the Director General of Irish Aid, along with some other cultural activities.

Ireland greatly values its bilateral relationship with Uganda. Last year marked 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.