Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni has posthumously bestowed the country's golden jubilee heroes medal to an Australian charity worker, the late Irene Gleeson.
The medal is awarded to the people who have significantly helped improve the lives of others, especially the disadvantaged.
Ms Gleeson, who passed away last year aged 68, started up four primary schools and two vocational institutions in northern Uganda during the era of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels' war against the Ugandan government.
She established the Irene Gleeson Foundation which runs the schools and institutions with money mostly from fundraising in Australia.
LRA rebels, led by Joseph Kony, killed thousands of people and led to over two million people resettling in internally displaced people camps between 1987 to around 2006.
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But the bloodshed did not stop Gleeson from going there in 1990 and establishing schools for the disadvantaged children.
During Uganda heroes day celebrations in Mityana town, she was among those who were awarded medals.
The master of ceremonies at the function, General Elly Tumwine said: "Irene Gleeson left her comfortable home in Australia and came to northern Uganda where she established four schools which are currently educating 4500 students."
"We thank her for helping Ugandan children. Although she passed away, what she started in Uganda is still growing up."
The medal was received by Irene Gleeson Foundation executive director John Paul Kiffasi.
He thanked the Ugandans for appreciating Gleesons' contribution towards people in northern Uganda.
Authorities in Kitigum district, where she established the schools, have named one of the roads in their major town after her.
"Over 25,000 war orphaned children have benefited from IGF services in the last two decades," said district official Ken Opio.
"It is in appreciation of her generosity that we have decided to name a town council road 'Mama Irene Gleeson street'."
Residents of Kitigum will hold a grand memorial concert in memory of Gleeson on July 11, a year after her death.
