Spectators turn out for the festivities in Kampala to celebrate Uganda’s 50 years of independence.

Uganda celebrated 50 years of independence on Tuesday. There is much to celebrate, from heroes like Stephen Kiprotich who took the gold in the Olympics in August, to being ranked the “top travel destination for 2012” by Lonely Planet, to major successes in economic development. According to the World Bank, “Uganda has surpassed the 2015 Millennium Development Goal of halving the 56 percent poverty rate recorded in 1992/93.”

While these successes can and should be highlighted, “equal access to quality social services, particularly education, health, and clean water, remains a challenge.” (World Bank)

That is why the Invisible Children Uganda (ICU) staff remains committed to partnering with local communities to improve education and livelihood opportunities.

Over the past seven years, ICU has had the opportunity to grow the number of students receiving scholarships through the Legacy Scholarship Program from 142 students in 2005 to 950 students in 2012. In 2009, there were 600 beneficiaries of ICU’s Village Savings and Loan Associations program, a number that has increased to 1,350 as of last year.

Uganda has overcome many challenges over the past 50 years, and we look forward to seeing the forward strides in livelihoods and education that will be made in the next 50 years.