Uganda gets new World Bank country director

The World Bank has appointed Rosemary Mukami Kariuki, as the new World Bank Country Manager for Uganda, effective August 01, 2021.

The Kenyan national succeeds Tony Thompson who has completed his three-year tour of duty in Uganda and moved back to the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington, DC

According to World Bank's statement, Kariuki will lead an active portfolio currently at US$3.9 billion in commitment comprising 27 projects: 21 national and six regional operations.

"Under her leadership, the World Bank Group will continue to work closely with the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders to provide innovative products and services that respond to its diverse development challenges and contribute to achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction, with a specific emphasis on COVID-19 recovery." World Bank said in a statement.

Her appointment comes at a time when the Uganda is confronting both the immediate and longer-term health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.

Ms Kariuki boasts over 30 years’ experience in development planning, local government and decentralization, infrastructure development, water supply and sanitation, climate change, and disaster risk management.

Prior to her latest appointment, she has been serving as World Bank, Country Manager for Zimbabwe and has been a global Lead for Urban Development and Poverty; Practice Manager for Urban Development for Sub-Saharan Africa.

She has also previously been sector leader for sustainable development in Tanzania, Burundi, and Uganda and Program Coordinator for local government activities in the Philippines.

Ms. Kariuki holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York and has also undertaken several short courses from different institutions such as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the London School of Economics.