After five years in Uganda, the Uganda Country Representative Ms Janet Jackson left the Pearl of Africa and headed to the country of the Golden Pagodas of Myanmar.
Numerous farewell events were held for her and it became clear once more what Janet meant for Uganda. As the Country Representative, her fundraising skills saw a significant increase in UNFPA's ability to raise more resources to support the different development programmes. We saw a growth in staff from 45 to over 81 employees, with Janet putting emphasis on service delivery and ensuring that resources raised are utilised in time and for the intended purpose, always following the right procedures. She made sensitive issues such as Female Genital Mutilation and Obstetric Fistula discussable and ignited the fire for the public debate on Gender Based Violence and other population issues. She also institutionalized good management practices at the office. But it wasn't all work for Janet. She even adopted a Ugandan rhino and helped a Batwa family with their housing.
Even though UNFPA Uganda colleagues express great sadness over her departure, they also feel empowered and confident enough to keep raising the bar Janet has put up high and to keep reaching for the sky, with the UNFPA mission in mind at any time. To put it in the words of the Assistant Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, "She was the drumbeater who taught us to dance, and even though the drumbeat will now change, we promise to keep on dancing."
