Health
Oscar Arac Triumphs Out of his Troubled Past to a Makerere University First Class Star
When Arac Oscar was abducted in S.1 at Alito Secondary School in Kole District by the self-appointed ‘messiah’ of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Joseph Kony, his world had come to an end. He could never believe that he could have any other opportunity to shape his future through education.
In those days, the spiritualist rebel group abducted thousands of children and adults to serve as porters and also fill the ranks of Kony’s Army.
But as luck would have it, despite a troubled background, he emerged in the top quarter of his class with a First Class of 4.49 in Bachelor of Environmental Health Sciences housed at Makerere University School of Public Health under the College of Health Sciences.
We walk you his life journey of how he beat the odds to become today’s star. Born to the late Arac George and Esther Akello in April 1987, Oscar doesn’t have any memory of what his father looked like.
When he was born, he was told that his father passed on, shortly after his mother conceived; “My mother was 6 months pregnant. I wasn’t born yet and my father passed away. I am told he was a UPDF soldier who died at a rank of Sergeant. At that time, I am told that there was limited attention to photography in my village. As of today, I can’t figure out how he looked like”
He grew up under the care of his beloved maternal grandfather, the now late Mathias Obuku who stepped in to fill the father gap at Angwengotop village, Amuge Parish, Alito sub-county in Kole district.
His past, he says has shaped his view of life and influenced his life. In 1993, Osar Arac enrolled to Agoma Primary School where completed his Primary Leaving Examination and passed in 2nd division in 2001. He would later be admitted to Alito Secondary School where he studied for only one year but later transferred to Aculbanya Secondary School, also in Kole District in 2003 after the unfortunate abduction incident. He was here until 2005.
Arac recollects the ugly days of his childhood when he was abducted by the LRA when one day in the wee hours of the morning in June 2002 when they invaded his school, a few meters from his home and was abducted alongside other people he can’t recall.
At the age 13 then, Arac says his dream of ever going back to school had been shattered by the incident. It seemed mission impossible but kept patient and resilient until an opportunity presented itself for him to escape.
“I remember I had just turned 13 that year. My Guardian could not afford boarding fees. I, together with other colleagues rented a small room near the School to cut on the cost of living at the school dormitories. One night, the rebels invaded our school and took us along with them,” recalls Arac.
They trekked from Pajule via Pader district into the deep of the jungles. “This was horrific. I used to hear that the rebels would abduct people but had never witnessed. It was my turn. It felt like a dream but I realized I was under captivity when all my freedom was gone. I would spend almost every day of my three months in the bush crying. Sometimes I would fail to walk and they carry me on their shoulders in turns,” says Arac.
What kept him strong was the zeal for education he had. “Escaping from captivity was my priority and I badly wanted to go to back School,” says Arac.
Three months later, he says he, alongside other children were rescued by the UPDF soldiers when the rebel groups were attacked. Eventually, he was handed over to Red cross team which drove him to his home.
But he was living in fear of being abducted again by the rebels. At his tender age, he most times stayed awake in the nights in case the rebels came hunting for him.
This childhood experience however, would later torment his childhood life and subsequently affected his performance at School. But aware of his background, Arac says he knew the meaning of education and knew he would shape his future well only if he studied. He pursued his academics despite the numerous challenges along the way. In 2005 for instance, he passed his Ordinary Level Education with a 2nd Division grade at Aculbanya Secondary School.
He was then, admitted to a missionary School -Comboni College in Lira for his Advanced Level. He obtained 11 points in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (PCB/A). These marks, earned him an admission to study a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Gulu University in 2008. This was however on Private and he could hardly raise any fees to pursue the course. He was told however that he would win a government slot if he went for a Certificate or Diploma in a tertiary institution.
In fact, his Uncle, Mr. Jasper Okello, an Environmental Health Officer in Otuke District inspired him to pursue a career by doing a Diploma of Environmental Health at Mbale School of Hygiene in 2008 which he enrolled, later graduating with a CGPA of 3.93 in 2010.
“I loved how he conducted himself. Changing the health status of the community he worked in made me love the course. When I joined the course, I found it unique because it was a course where you get field experience by engaging with communities, change their health behaviors and make them responsible for their health,” says Arac.
While at Mbale School of Hygiene, Arac says he juggled between work and studies. He obtained a job as a pump attendant “I faced a lot of financial challenges since I am the bread-winner in the family.”
Following his Diploma, Arac says he tried several job opportunities fruitlessly. He recalls the days he applied to work as a Health Inspector in Kole, Alebtong, and Otuke District but could not get a slot.
After several unsuccessful attempts to get a job, Arac says a friend urged him to join the the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), which at that time was recruiting health professionals and that is how he joined the Army in 2011. Upon completion of his training, he got deployed as a Health Inspector with the Chieftaincy of Medical Services under the Directorate of Public Health, UPDF.
In 2016, he was admitted to Makerere University but could not proceed with the the course because of financial calls. He applied again and in 2018, Arac was admitted on Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health, Makerere University.
Being a privately sponsored student, it meant that he had to continue work to secure his tuition and fend family. “The course is so practical and it demanded almost all my personal time. But I pressed on. I am thankful to the UPDF family especially the Education Implementation Board for giving me an opportunity to study,” says Arac.
His inspirational quote is from Harriet Tubman; who once said ‘Every great dream begins with a dreamer.’ I am very excited that I am here as one of the best students,” says Arac.
Arach attributes his outstanding performance to teamwork, and not just an individual effort, a trait he has since learned from the forces.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Makerere University College of Health Science (MakCHS) and other partners are jointly hosting the National Annual Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (NACNDC) and 19th Joint Annual Scientific Health (JASH) Conference 2025, running from 3rd to 7th November. Ahead of the official opening on Wednesday, 5th November, a Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium was held under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Advancing Mental Health Awareness and Resilience,” with a sub-theme on “Advancing Mental Health in Schools and Universities — Research and Policy Perspectives.” The session, held at Victoria Hall, Speke Resort Munyonyo, brought together mental-health experts, policymakers, researchers and education stakeholders to explore how learning institutions can strengthen emotional well-being, resilience and support systems for young people across Uganda.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Justice Duncan Gaswaga of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights urged stakeholders to recognise the deep connection between mental health and human rights, noting that mental well-being cannot be separated from the social and economic realities in which people live. He commended the theme on “breaking the silence,” arguing that open conversations and early prevention offer the most cost-effective path to protecting communities, especially learners. Drawing from his judicial experience, he shared first-hand accounts of emotional trauma faced by judges who regularly encounter distressing evidence in court, including cases from the LRA conflict, and observed that legal professionals, like health workers and teachers, are not immune to psychological strain. Justice Gaswaga raised concern over rising mental-health challenges in schools and universities, citing data showing increased depression, substance use, and emotional distress among students, particularly girls. He attributed these trends to pressures such as long study hours, parental absence, peer influence, online risks, poverty, and untreated trauma. He called for stronger government funding, implementation of school mental-health policies, closer parental involvement, and coordinated action across sectors, adding that legal reforms, including debate on decriminalising attempted suicide, may be necessary to ensure individuals can seek help without fear of punishment.
The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe emphasised the urgent need to prioritise mental health across all sectors, noting that society often treats the subject as taboo despite its profound impact on productivity, ethics and service delivery. She argued that mental well-being is not only a personal concern but a governance issue, pointing out that health workers, who shoulder enormous responsibility, also require structured support systems to safeguard their psychological welfare. Citing recent incidents, including a case in Masaka where a patient reportedly died after a medical worker allegedly refused treatment over a payment dispute, she warned that unresolved mental-health challenges can influence behaviour and decision-making in critical service spaces. The IGG further highlighted a link between mental health and corruption, suggesting that addressing emotional strain and psychological pressures among public servants could contribute to ethical conduct and better public service outcomes. She encouraged continued engagement on the topic, calling for mental-health considerations to be integrated into anti-corruption strategies and institutional reforms, and expressed readiness to contribute more deeply to future discussions.
Delivering the keynote at the Mental Health Pre-Conference Symposium, Dr Racheal Nuwagaba of Makerere University urged stakeholders to confront mental health as it is today and abandon siloed approaches, calling for full integration of services into primary health care and evidence-led policy. She said nearly two decades of clinical practice and teaching have shown her that young people carry mounting pressures, highlighting Uganda’s youthful demographics and pointing to drivers such as sleep deprivation, academic strain, abuse and neglect. Citing recent trends, she warned against sensational statistics and urged clear differentiation between mild, moderate and severe symptoms, noting post-COVID rises in depression, higher burdens among refugees and significant risks for girls and senior students. Dr Nuwagaba stressed the frequent co-occurrence of mental illness with addictions and physical conditions, explaining that untreated disorders worsen over time and can impair brain function, while treatment and adherence improve outcomes. She encouraged mindfulness and presence in classrooms and clinics, and pressed institutions to use research to guide decisions, reduce stigma, and design culturally grounded, community-based responses. Concluding, she appealed for sustained collaboration across sectors and for the deliberate hiring and fair remuneration of professional mental-health providers to safeguard learners’ emotional, social and academic well-being.
The symposium also featured a panel discussion on Mental Health in Schools and Universities, chaired by Dr Kenneth Kalani from the Ministry of Health, and bringing together experts including Dr Harriet Abbe, Prof Ane-Marthe Solheim of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Ms Rebecca Namakula from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Panelists underscored the urgency of addressing mental-health challenges among learners, with insights highlighting early substance use among children as young as six, the need for teacher training in mental-health literacy, and the critical role of schools as early-detection points. They emphasised stronger linkages between health facilities and learning institutions, investment in prevention and early intervention, and the importance of equipping teachers, parents and school leaders with the skills to identify and respond to distress. The panel agreed that mental-health support must extend across the entire school community and be backed by policy enforcement, coordinated services and sustained collaboration across sectors.
In her closing remarks, Dr Hafsa Lukwata, Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, urged Ugandans to break the silence around mental well-being and be intentional about seeking help and supporting one another. She noted that mental-health challenges are widespread across schools, homes and workplaces, and emphasised that silence only deepens the burden. Dr Lukwata encouraged institutions to appoint mental-health focal persons and called for sustained dialogue, continued collaboration and proactive efforts to build resilience in communities. She reminded participants that improving mental health begins with individual awareness and collective action, urging them to treat the day’s engagement as a starting point for strengthening support systems across the country.
On 24th October 2025, the 3rd cohort (65 professionals) of the ‘Science of Designing Adaptation and Implementation of Evidence–Based Parenting Interventions’ graduated at a ceremony held at Africana Hotel, Kampala, Uganda. The professionals were advised to be good ambassadors and share the knowledge from the training.
The training is a collaboration between Child Health Development Centre (CHDC) at Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) through their Parenting Agenda Initiative.
The graduation brings the total of those trained to 130 since cohort 1, and marks a significant milestone in the journey of standardising parenting interventions in Uganda and testament of the nation’s commitment to strengthening families and communities.
In his remarks at the graduation, Dr. Godfrey Siu – Senior Lecturer at CHDC, Programme and Course Lead congratulated the participants for successfully completing the intensive parenting course. He said, ‘I am filled with an immense sense of pride and hope, not just for what we have accomplished during the training but the ripple effect this will have across Uganda’.
Dr. Siu highlighted that the course was not conceived in isolation, but is a vital pillar in the ambitious and crucial efforts by the Government of Uganda (GoU) through MoGLSD with an aim to strengthen and standardise parenting interventions in the country.
‘We extend our appreciation to GoU and MoGLSD in particular for the unwavering commitment and steadfast support. The vision for stronger families is a collective one, and leadership by government is its cornerstone. Let us go and build a future where every child in Uganda can thrive in a nurturing, supportive, and loving family’, Dr. Siu said.
Dr. Siu thanked the various partners who supported the training including the ELMA Foundation, Global Parenting Initiative and Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC); facilitators of the programme, drawn from a diverse spectrum of expertise. He advised the graduands to be champions, as standard-bearers for a new-era of parenting in Uganda.
He also called for support from development partners, donors and GoU in funding the next phase of the critical work noting that investment in parenting is an investment in the health, stability, and prosperity of the nation.
Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director-CHDC noted the multi-dimensional benefits of the course including standardisation. He said, ‘all researchers dream about their work making impact and influence policy which Dr. Siu has achieved with this training programme’.
The Director-CHDC thanked all partners, MakCHS and CHDC administration for ensuring the success of the training. He commended the participants for the commitment and resilience during the training and expressed hope that they will use the knowledge when they return to their communities and organisations.
Professor Richard Idro, Deputy Principal-MakCHS represented the College administration at the graduation. In his speech he congratulated the participants on the milestone, thanked MoGLSD for entrusting the University with this work and also thanked CHDC for undertaking the programme not only for research but also as a contribution to the nation.
Professor Idro noted that parenting today is so different from what many of us experienced, highlighting that many parents work away from home also spending less time with their children.
He said, ‘teachers and carers spend more time with children therefore standardisation from initiatives like this are welcome’.
Highlighting the new strategy of taking the University to communities and solving societal challenges, Professor Idro commended the CHDC for the work which is well aligned to the aforementioned strategy. He called on the graduands to cascade the initiative learned to the lowest level of local governments for the benefit of the whole population.
He expressed hope that for sustainability, funding of the programme would be included in the government budget cycle to ensure continuity. He thanked the UMSC for the support recognising time that Sheikh Ali Waiswa had spent at the event as a sign of commitment to improved parenting in Uganda.
‘Our children are vulnerable, I hope this training takes us back to the basics of parenting. I encourage everyone to start with their family and share with all those around them’, said Dr. Angela Nakafeero – Commissioner for Women and Gender Affairs who represented the Permanent Secretary-MoGLSD, Mr. Aggrey Kibenge.
She thanked partners, MoGLSD departments, and various government institutions that have contributed to work accomplished to-date. She reiterated the message of the previous speakers to the graduands not to keep what they had learned to themselves but share with others. ‘Don’t keep information acquired, share it, make better parents and raise better families’, she said.
‘The ministry remains committed to the parenting agenda. As a nation we have always stressed the importance of cultural and religious appropriateness; the University is on-board to offer technical knowledge and this partnership will continue to deliver results’, Dr. Nakafeero added.
She invited the Chief Guest, Sheikh Ali Waiswa – Deputy Mufti, UMSC who represented the Mufti to address the congregation.
Sheikh Waiswa reminded those present that holy books including the Quran and Bible prescribed the family as the cornerstone of society giving guidance on how to raise good families.
He warned against the increased violence against children present in our communities. Quoting statistics, he expressed disappointment that children endure acts of violence in places meant to be safe havens like homes and schools with acts committed by people meant to be trusted. ‘Nearly 6 out of 10 girls and 7 out of 10 boys have experienced physical violence, while 35% of girls are affected by sexual violence’, he said.
The Deputy Mufti commended the training course for bridging the gap between research and practice, saying it would revolutionise parenting, strengthen families and in-turn society. ‘Don’t underestimate the power of the work you are doing, as we celebrate, let us remember our blue print is this initiative and training’, he said.
At the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) Annual Meeting held 27th-28th October 2025 at Makerere University, Kampala, the Chief Guest, Hon. Monica Musenero – Minister for Science Technology and Innovations called on scientists to translate science to local lingua to be understood by the general population.
ORTARChI was launched in December 2018, aimed at building research and innovation capacity across Africa. The initiative has to-date established 10 Research Chairs in seven countries, addressing critical challenges like climate change, public health, and food security. The seven countries are Uganda, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. The Uganda Research Chair held by Professor David Bisagaya Meya focuses on infectious and neurological diseases at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Hon. Musenero highlighted that at present Africa is like a huge pothole in a road compared to other continents in the context of development, advising that we must look at science as a driver of national development and solution to our challenges.
Calling for translation of science to local lingua the Minister advised, ‘we must realise that science is not to the exclusion of non-scientists. Connect the local population to appreciate how science is a utility in their lives’.
She proposed the following for consideration:
- Collaborate with partners in the northern hemisphere but retain your knowledge and consider it a commodity for wealth creation.
- Science was always considered a product of the elite education system than use in day-to-day life, this must change.
- Other nations rose through making STI a priority. Cognizant of the low investment by governments in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers must engage with policy makers, simplify their results for the later to appreciate the return on investment from research.
- Working in silos will not take Africa far, collaboration on the continent is necessary to produce material useful to us other than remaining consumers of what is produced elsewhere.
- Engineer science and research to build the economies and wealth creation.
‘Africa has excellent labs, publications, presentations at international conferences without protecting intellectual property which translates to professors retiring on pension as opposed to loyalties for their peers in the western world through registration and sale of patents’, Hon Musenero added.
Create think tanks that ‘think’ rather than only research and give to others, recognise knowledge from research as wealth, the Minister further advised.
Hon. Musenero’s parting message to researchers and scientists was: artificial intelligence is going to rule this world, what is Africa’s role and portion?; re-examine whether the research in our institutions is aligned to industries; the new saying should be aligned to protecting our knowledge through a value chain of research-protect-product and then publish as opposed to publish or perish which gives away our knowledge to be used by others; develop pan-African mind-set and networks through benefit sharing; and be intentional in working on what works for us, measure performance by how many products are a result of your research as well as jobs created.
In his remarks, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor – Makerere University welcomed participants to Uganda and Makerere University. He said, ‘this gathering reflects our shared commitment to science as a catalyst for inclusive development, resilience, and economic opportunity across the continent’.
Professor Nawangwe noted that Africa stands at a pivotal moment where a young population are pursuing education with determination, universities are expanding the frontiers of knowledge with collaborating partners enabling the institutions to translate ideas into impact.
‘However, true progress requires more than research excellence. Sustainable ecosystems that translate findings into policy, practice and prosperity are also required’, he reminded the gathering.
He expressed his hope that, conversations at this meeting are not only theoretical but concrete steps toward a self-sustaining research eco-system that aligns with Africa’s growth.
Dr. Ham-Mukasa Mulira delivered a keynote address where he called for stakeholders to advance Africa’s future-ready generation through research innovation and artificial intelligence. He challenged participants to reimagine Africa’s future through strategic investment in knowledge, technology and youth potential.
Some of the issues raised during discussions at the meeting included: Institutional uptake of Research Chairs in Universities in comparison to the research projects; Creation of Communities of Practice of scientists working in same arrears to leverage resources and capacity across borders; African nations should invest more in research and STI which enable the continent to set an agenda which is aligned to their needs; The research chairs introduced on the continent have to be aligned to the abundant natural resources and work towards developing final products for export as opposed to raw materials; Manufacturing capacity of Africa requires improvement and incentives to the private sector to be more responsive in collaborating with researchers in product development; Africa has to move away from business as usual in research with consideration that innovation isn’t random but has to be intentional to the needs of our societies; Acceleration of graduates to be job creators is required as opposed to incubation of idea which has been slow in delivering results; Science communication is necessary to local communities in simple language and engagement of policymakers both in country and regional bodies. Scientists can afford to be apolitical, as decision makers politicians are key partners in whatever is happening in research institutions; Inter-disciplinary collaboration and handholding, for example clinicians working with basic scientists; Identification of gifted scientists for mentorship, training and support through their career paths.
Dr. David Serukka, Ag. Executive Secretary of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology delivered closing remarks of the ORTARChI gathering. He moved a vote of thanks to all the participants and partners for making the meeting possible.
Dr. Serukka reiterated Hon. Musenero’s message and called on everyone to reflect on the discussions at the meeting. ‘The future for Africa is a digital knowledge economy and we must strive to define what it means for us and how to use it for national development as well as wealth creation’, he said.
He underlined the importance of partnerships, capacity building, concrete steps for sustainability, championing STI to become actors not watchers, protect our knowledge through patents, develop a pan-African mind-set of knowledge sharing and re-examine research around us and which direction to take.
Dr. Serukka thanked the National Research Foundation, South Africa for organising the funding which has catalysed the networks created. He called on all the Chairs under ORTARChI to keep thinking to take us forward.
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