KAMPALA: Peace Corps Uganda welcomed 33 American Peace Corps volunteers on Monday. Arriving to a country that will be their home for the next two years, the group was received by officials from the Peace Corps office.
The return of volunteers to Uganda marks a resumption of a long legacy of Peace Corps in Uganda which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the Peace Corps evacuated 7,000 volunteers globally, including 137 from Uganda alone. The return coincides with the celebration of 60 years of strong partnerships and underscores the friendship between the people of Uganda and the United States.
“We are thrilled to welcome Peace Corps volunteers back to Uganda,” said Peace Corps Uganda Country Director, Dr. Lily Asrat. “Communities, schools, partner organizations, host families, and staff have been waiting for more than two years to welcome them back. That day is now here!”
The newly arriving volunteers will work hand-in-hand with partner organizations and local communities to provide support in three sectors: education, health, and agribusiness/economic development. Through their service, volunteers develop transferable skills and hone intercultural competencies that position them to be the next generation of global leaders and in so doing, help build bridges between our two countries.
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries worldwide, including 1,861 in Uganda.
