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Norah Tebaweesa, Olivia Muhumuza and Anthony Oluka, have each won Uganda’s Teachers Making a Difference Award which seeks to recognise those teachers that have made big contributions to the communities they live in.

The winners in each category walk away with a cash prize of UGX1m (US$450); runners up receive a prize of UGX750,000 (US$325), and those in third place get UGX500,000 (US$225).

The competition began in August when the public were asked to nominate teachers in their localities who they believed were making great contributions in educating the children of Uganda. More than 100 entries were received from the public and a panel of education experts then reviewed and selected 12 winners in each. The four month search will culminate in a prize-giving ceremony on 9 December.

The panel of experts consisted of Dr. Katigo Kaheru, Dean of the Education Faculty at Kyambogo University; Margaret Rwabushaija, Chairperson of EI affiliate Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU); Connie Kateeba, Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre, and Huzaifa Mutazindwa, Director of Education Standards at the Uganda’s Ministry of Education.

Mutazindwa lauded the initiative which he said complements government efforts to improve education standards. He said that teachers are critical because they are the source of knowledge and facilitators of learning.

"In a country where we are resource constrained, it is hard to recognise teachers. The ministry appreciates recognising and motivating teachers. This is essential if we are to create an education environment that will propel our nation to greater heights," Huzaifa noted.

UNATU’s Margaret Rwabushaija, said the objective of the award was to “engage the community in acknowledging the teachers' great contributions, which can often go unrecognised.”

“Across Africa, just as in the world beyond, teachers continue to make life-changing differences to positively impact on the prospects of children and young people to achieve their full potential.”

The winners

Norah Tebaweesa, Nursery School category winner, was recognised for her efforts in educating underprivileged children in Mulago. Many children in this area did not go to school because of poverty. They roamed and played naked in filth and ate food not fit for human consumption. Norah set up Merryland Kindergarten in the area and charged a small fee that the parents could afford. For the parents who do cannot afford the fee, she negotiated with them based on their level of income. The judges were impressed by the growth of Norah’s initiative and how that she kept the school in the community to make a difference in the lives of the children who might never have had a chance to go to school.

Anthony Oluka, the Secondary School category winner was recognised for his ability to support government policies and pilot an e-learning programme in eastern Uganda. Even when government funding ended, he continued with the programme and encouraged other schools and teachers in the region to embrace it. He continues to work hard for the development of education in his community.

Olivia Muhumuza won the Primary School category. She was recognised for her support for homeless children on the streets of Kampala. She reached out to those who were begging on the streets and convinced them to attend school. Not only did they attend, but she also paid their school fees, bought them school materials and uniforms, fed them and convinced them to stay in school, despite the fact that were homeless. A number of the children she has helped have completed primary and are now in secondary school.