Ugandan School Praises USAID, Honors fallen U.S.

Soldier

By Chief Petty Officer (select) Shawn D. Graham, CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

KITGUM, Uganda (Aug. 10, 2010) — Kitgum High School and the U.S. Embassy in Uganda

celebrated the dedication ceremony of the school’s new cafeteria Aug. 10. The cafeteria was

dedicated in honor of late U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin Sklaver.

Sklaver served with the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Kitgum civil affairs

team during 2008. He is credited with bringing clean drinking water to impoverished villages in

northern Uganda and leading renovation efforts to restore damaged government buildings.

Sklaver was later killed in action Oct. 2, 2009, during an ambush while on patrol in Muscheh,

Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.

"This ceremony honors Benjamin Sklaver and his work in the Kitgum district,” said Ocan

Michael, Kitgum High School head teacher. “He is a fallen scholar and a humanitarian of

unprecedented benevolence. He exemplified the partnership between the people of Uganda and

the United States. He will be missed.”

The staff at Kitgum High School, located in the outskirts of the Kitgum district, educates

more than 1300 students around the district. The school was renovated with the help of the U.S.

military and the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Northern

Ugandan Transition Initiative (NUTI) program.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. James Owens, CJTF-HOA deputy commander, commended the

partnership between the U.S. and Ugandan governments.

 "Today we celebrate the partnership between the United States and the people of

Uganda,” said Owens. “We share an appreciation for education and how it can advance the lives

of young people.”

Owens also cited Sklaver’s impressive work and said that Kitgum High School was an

investment in Uganda’s future.

“I hope that someday someone whose life Capt. Sklaver touched, will reach out to

someone else less fortunate and touch their lives,” said Owens. “Just like he touched their lives.

U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Jerry Lanier praised the efforts of local officials and their

partnership with USAID in northern Uganda.

“At all levels is proud to be associated with the revitalization efforts in northern Uganda,”

said Lanier. “These combined efforts show the Ugandan people that peace is here and together

we will build a brighter future.

“Education investments are directly linked to overcoming poverty,” said Lanier. “This

investment also helps demonstrates the advocacy and support from local leaders. Kitgum is a

small part of the Ugandan Peace, Recovery and Development Priority plan (UPRDP).”

“The government is deeply moved by the dedication of the building to Captain Sklaver,”

said Lanier. “Sklaver assisted many people in this area. He was so effective that his local

nickname was Moses Ben. Even after his departure he continued to give back.”

Lanier also said that thanks to dedicated service members like Sklaver and agencies like

USAID, residents are returning to places where they haven’t lived in many years.
 “We deeply value our strong friendship between our two countries,” said Lanier. “The

American people stand by the Ugandan people. Together we will forge a better future for this

country.”