First Lady, Netherlands Ambassador discuss potential collaboration

KAMPALA - First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs. Janet Museveni has met with the Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda,  Frederieke Quispel, to discuss potential collaboration in education and skills development.

The meeting took place at State House Nakasero on Thursday.

A release from the ministry states that Mrs. Museveni expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation between Uganda and the Netherlands.

The First Lady and the ambassador underscored the importance of addressing menstrual health to keep girls in school, with Mrs. Museveni proposing collaboration on providing sanitary pads to students.

The First Lady requested the Netherlands embassy to explore additional collaboration opportunities, particularly in agriculture and education exchange programs. 

She also sought to establish pathways for Ugandan students to study at Dutch agricultural universities and requested scholarships for Ugandans.

Reflecting on her previous visit to an agricultural university in Holland, Mrs. Museveni praised their animal health and care programs. She requested opportunities for Ugandan agricultural institute leaders to learn Dutch best practices in animal husbandry, which they could then teach to students and communities.

Mrs. Museveni acknowledged the Netherlands' support for refugee communities while stressing the importance of including host communities in refugee programs to promote harmony. 

She advocated for increased focus on vocational training and early childhood development in refugee areas.

Revealing that the Netherlands Embassy is developing a project focused on sanitary pad provision, Quispel pledged to support the Ministry of Education's efforts to keep girls in school through menstrual health initiatives.

The Ambassador highlighted potential partnerships with AfriPads—a Dutch company manufacturing reusable sanitary pads in Uganda—and civil society organizations to support girls' continued education.

Praising Uganda's hospitality toward refugees, Ambassador Quispel affirmed the Embassy's commitment to large-scale programs supporting both refugee and host communities' education and livelihoods.

She commended Uganda's emphasis on skills development and promised continued support for both refugees and host communities.

Addressing the request for agricultural exchange programs, the Ambassador suggested linking educational initiatives to the Embassy's Best Farmer programme, run in partnership with The New Vision. 

She also committed to exploring scholarship opportunities at Dutch universities.

The Ambassador concluded by discussing Dutch investments in Uganda's agriculture and aquaculture sectors, including initiatives to support smallholder farmers and enhance food security.

Dignitaries at the meeting included Judith Adokorach, Policy Officer for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, who accompanied the Ambassador, plus Senior technical officers from the Ministry of Education and Sports, led by Under Secretary Finance and Administration Dr. Jane Egau, who also attended the meeting.