The First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has commended the United Kingdom government’s partnership programmes that help in Uganda’s process to transform the lives of the Karimojong.

Mrs. Museveni was on Friday meeting with the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, at the Karamoja affairs ministry offices in Moroto.

The Secretary of State was on a field visit to Moroto to review their Department for International Development’s (DFID) support in Karamoja.

He also wanted to know the minister’s views on the progress and effectiveness of DFID’s support in the region.  The UK, through DFID, supports the NUSAF 2 food security programme implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP).

Other projects supported by DFID include the NUSAF 2 construction of teachers’ and health workers’ houses, emergency nutrition and supply of rural water to Karamoja households, the social protection programme and awarding school bursaries to needy but bright girls.

The First Lady said there was need for vigorous monitoring of all programmes to ensure goal attainment.

“There is need for people to be our eyes and ears on the progress of all development programmes,” she said.

Mrs. Museveni observed that the health programme soon to start in Moroto focuses on promoting maternal health. She expressed the need for cooperation with Matany Hospital to train more midwives to help address maternal health issues. She also proposed that instead of providing school fees to a few girls, the money could be used to construct schools and benefit many more children in hard-to-reach areas like Tapac.

She hailed WFP and UNICEF who she said have worked with the Karamoja affairs ministry in many development endeavours.

Mitchell was accompanied by British High Commissioner Martin Shearman, DFID’s acting Director for East and Central Africa, Donald Brown, WFP Regional Director Stanlake Samkange, UNICEF Deputy Director May Anyabolu and Jane Riotoul from DFID’s head office.