Kate Lamaro replaced by Kedrace Dr Turyagyenda as Education Ministry PS

Turyagyenda replaces Kate Lamaro who had served as PS from July 2021 until two months ago when her contract ran out.

The reasons for Mrs Museveni’s decision not to renew her contract remain a matter of speculation with some tagging it to underperformance and her failure to cultivate good relations with some of the Ministry’s commissioners.

The minister took to social media on Monday to announce the new appointment.

"I congratulate Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda on her appointment as the new Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education."

While welcoming the new PS, the minister expressed confidence in the ministry's ability to “provide a secure and supportive learning environment for our students, despite challenges posed by the Red-Eye outbreak and recent cases of monkeypox.”

Who is Turyagyenda

Dr Turyagyeda has been serving as the Director of Education Standards and Commissioner for Secondary Education Standards in the same ministry.

Her career spanning over three decades, started as a mathematics and physics teacher at Kigezi College before progressing to senior administrative roles within the ministry. She has also been a member of the Education Policy Review Commission, which is tasked with reforming Uganda’s education system.

She holds a PhD in Education Management from Nkumba University, Uganda, and has further academic qualifications from Leicester University (UK) and Makerere University. Over the years, she has contributed to several education governance bodies and has presented papers at international conferences, highlighting her influence in shaping educational policies.

In recent times, Dr. Turyagyenda has been vocal about the poor quality of educational materials, particularly textbooks used in Ugandan schools.

She has publicly expressed concerns about substandard textbooks, especially in subjects like chemistry, which contain significant errors.

This issue has raised broader questions about the effectiveness of Uganda's textbook evaluation process and the disconnect between the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and the Ministry of Education.