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.
Nearly half of Uganda’s prison population has latent tuberculosis (TB), according to the latest Uganda National Prevalence Survey on Tuberculosis, HIV, and COVID-19. The survey, released on May 15, 2025, found that active TB cases in prisons stand at 1,900 per 100,000—eight times higher than in the general population.
The survey was conducted by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in conjunction with the Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) and the Ministry of Health—with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC)—and purposed to have a more profound understanding of TB to help inform public health programs for this high-risk population.
Dr. Simon Kasasa, a Senior Lecturer at MakSPH and Principal Investigator of this study, stressed that “staying for a longer duration, three years and above, posed a greater risk to TB infection in prison.” He also noted TB infection was much higher among male prisoners (48%) compared to female prisoners (38%) and among those of older age, 65 years and above. Meanwhile, the report noted concerns about excessive numbers in prisons as a key risk factor for TB transmission.
UPS consists of 257 prisons spread over 16 administrative regions with an average prisoner population of 56,400 (95% male), accommodation capacity of 16,612 (340%), and 9,904 staff (29% female).
HIV prevalence among prisoners was also alarmingly high at 11%, twice that of the general population. Notably, female persons in prison (PIP) had the highest HIV rates at 21%, compared to 11% for male PIP and just 2% among prison staff. However, the data also showed a significant drop in overall HIV prevalence within prisons, falling from 15% in 2013 to 11% in 2023, with the most dramatic decline among staff, from 12% to 2%.
Dr. George Tumusinze, a Program Manager and Research Associate, pointed out that although 92% of people with HIV in prisons know their status and 99% are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 70% have successfully reduced the virus in their bodies, highlighting important issues with how well the treatment is working.
Mr. Samuel Akena, the Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, echoed these concerns by stating that the survey represents a significant milestone for the Prisons, not only in terms of data collection but also in Uganda’s journey towards achieving equity, justice, and the right to health for all. “This survey is historic. It represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to understand the health status of people in prisons in Uganda.” He emphasized the necessity of a collective and bold response, urging that “the time for piecemeal responses is over.”
Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “As we gather today to reflect on the findings of this important survey, we must recognize the urgent need for action in our fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda. Despite our efforts, we are still grappling with the burden of this disease, and our progress toward eliminating it by 2030 has not been as swift as we had hoped.” He pointed out that the survey serves as a critical baseline that will shape future responses and guide resource allocation.
HIV prevalence among prison staff members was the lowest, at just 2%, reflecting a significant achievement in workplace health. Dr. Daniel Byamukama, Head of HIV Prevention at the Uganda AIDS Commission, praised prison authorities for their efforts, noting the remarkable progress over the past decade. In the first survey in 2013, only 34% of HIV-positive staff on treatment had achieved viral load suppression. Today, that figure has reached an impressive 100%, underscoring the impact of sustained prevention and care efforts.
While the prison HIV program has shown effectiveness—evidenced by a drop in prevalence from 15% to 11% among the prisoners over the past decade—Mr. Akena stressed the importance of prioritizing gender-responsive strategies in health interventions.
“Diseases do not recognize bars or borders. They thrive in environments where conditions are poor and resources are scarce. Women in prison face disproportionately higher risks, yet often remain invisible in program planning. This is not acceptable. If we are serious about health equity, we must prioritize gender-responsive strategies — within prison health systems and beyond,” Mr. Akena.
CDC Uganda Director Dr. Adetinuke (Mary) Boyd reinforced the significance of the survey in addressing public health risks. “In Uganda, CDC partners are helping to ensure inmates stay healthy during custody. This work facilitates safe reintegration into their communities, mitigates disease transmission to the general population, and reduces public health risks like untreated TB,” she stated. Dr. Boyd highlighted the role of PEPFAR in tackling critical global health threats, asserting that the survey offers helpful data for enhancing health collaboration within this vulnerable population.
The U.S. CDC has been supporting Uganda Prisons Services to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS, STI, and TB prevention, care, and treatment services for the last 15 years (2010–2025), totaling over $18,046,263 in investment—including $550,000 to this study alone, through the Makerere University School of Public Health. The program supports capacity building, scale-up, and health system strengthening efforts in HIV/TB testing, care, and support for prisoners and prison staff, plus surrounding communities.
With 80% of prison wards overcrowded and 95% lacking adequate natural ventilation, the conditions in which these individuals live exacerbate the spread of infectious diseases, public health specialists have warned. This survey underlines the urgent need for systemic changes within the prison health system, as well as a commitment to uphold the rights and health of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
As Uganda grapples with these alarming statistics, the call to action is clear. Stakeholders must come together to implement effective health interventions, improve screening and treatment protocols, and ensure that the rights of incarcerated individuals are respected. The health of the general population is inextricably linked to the health of those within prison walls, and addressing these challenges is not just a moral imperative but a public health necessity.
Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, one of the investigators and Dean of the School of Public Health, asserts that the Survey findings are a wake-up call for stakeholders to prioritize health equity and justice for society’s most vulnerable members.
Prof. Wanyenze advocated for improved TB screening methods and institutionalization of regular mass TB screening using the WHO-recommended advanced diagnostic tools like digital chest X-rays with Computer-Aided Detection (CAD), as well as molecular diagnostics like GeneXpert and TB LAM, noting that traditional symptom-based screening missed nearly half of TB cases. “The use of molecular diagnostics like GeneXpert significantly improved case detection in our study,” she added, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
Uganda Prisons Service, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has so far installed 14 GeneXpert machines in medium- to high-volume prison health facilities.
While some, including Members of Parliament, have raised concerns about the potential infringement on individual rights through mandatory TB testing in prisons, Dr. James Kisambu, the Commissioner for Prison Health Services, noted that it is now apparent, with these findings, for everyone to appreciate that in such confined settings, the risk of transmission is extraordinarily high. TB testing in these settings is not just a medical practice but also a crucial public health precaution that protects both prisoners and the wider community.
“Prisons are high-risk, high-transmission environments where one undetected case can rapidly escalate into an outbreak. In such settings, the right to refuse testing must be weighed against the right of others to be protected from infection. Mandatory TB screening, when done with dignity and linked to prompt treatment, is not a violation of rights — it is an essential public health measure to protect both people in prison and the communities they return to,” said Dr. James Kisambu.
The researchers from MakSPH were; Dr. Simon Kasasa, Associate Professor Esther Buregyeya, Dr. George Tumusinze, Dr. Simon Walusimbi, Dr. Dick Kasozi, Dr. Ronald Senyonga, John Baptist Bwanika, Prossy Nabaterega and Professor Rhoda Wanyenze.
Additionally, the study team from the Uganda Prisons Service comprised of Dr. Leonard Marungu, Charles Butagasa, Dr. James Kisambu and Dr. Johnson Byabashaiza, the Commissioner General of Prisons.
Finally, Dr. Deus Lukoye, Dr. Julius Ssempiira, Charles Kavuma, Rise Nakityo, Samuel Sendagala, Grace Nantege, Lisa Mills, Dr. Lisa Nelson, Kenneth Mwambi from U.S. CDC Uganda/Atlanta and PEPFAR USG agencies, and George William Kasule, Didas Tugumisirize, Dr. Simon Muchuro, Professor Moses Joloba, Dr. Turyahabwe Stavia from the Uganda Ministry of Health National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) completed the team.
On April 23, 2025, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) convened district leaders, health managers, and project partners to disseminate the outcomes of a major leadership and management strengthening initiative in Wakiso District, Central Uganda. The one-year project, part of the Global Health Partnerships programme funded by NHS England, was implemented in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakiso District Local Government, and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Launched in 2024, the project titled Strengthening Leadership and Management Among Local Government Health Managers in Wakiso District, aimed to co-design and pilot a leadership and management training tailored to the realities of Uganda’s decentralised health system. The intervention, led by Makerere University’s Dr. David Musoke and Nottingham Trent University’s Prof. Linda Gibson, through the over 15-year-old NTU-Mak Partnership impacting lives in Wakiso, began with a field visit to over 60 public health facilities in the district, a needs assessment within these facilities to identify key priority gaps, and a baseline survey with the health in-charges to establish the initial status of key indicators.
“We have been very fortunate to work with a supportive local government in Wakiso, from the top leadership down. While many projects struggle to engage district teams, our longstanding relationship with Wakiso made collaboration seamless. Although this was our first initiative specifically focused on leadership and management, we hope it will serve as a stepping stone for even more impactful work in the future,” Dr. David Musoke, a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University and the Uganda Project Lead, said during the dissemination workshop, highlighting the key success factors for the leadership and management project.
Initial results from the needs assessment and baseline on leadership and management competencies conducted among Wakiso District health facility supervisors early last year by the project team and shared during the three-day workshop in June 2024, held in Kampala, which kickstarted the six-month structured fellowship programme for 53 health managers in Wakiso, had found critical capacity gaps. Using a tool evaluating 17 leadership and 33 management competencies, only 40% of the managers met the 80% benchmark for leadership, scoring highest in cognitive skills, while just 33% met the required management standard, performing best in self-management and lowest in quality management.
Then, the health facility managers with postgraduate training, longer service, and strong team dynamics, showed overall better performance. While working relationships with subordinates and the district leadership were largely positive, performance was hampered by systemic challenges such as limited resources, low motivation, and weak teamwork. Overall, the study also pointed to a misalignment of expectations between the District Local Government and the Health Ministry, underscoring the need to strengthen coordination to improve services.
The result of this mismatch was to the effect that, as of this time last year, Wakiso District ranked among the bottom 10 on the national health league table, which is an annual Ministry of Health assessment of district performance across key service delivery and patient satisfaction indicators. This was despite Wakiso being Uganda’s most populous district, with over 3.4 million residents today, as it continued to struggle to deliver essential health services to the public. The 2022/2023 Annual Health Sector Performance Report also flagged persistent challenges, including frequent transfers of facility in-charges, overstretched management structures, and weak internal communication and coordination.
It was this stark reality that informed the leadership and management intervention in Wakiso. Officiating the dissemination of the project outcomes, Dr. Sarah Byakika, Commissioner for Planning, Financing, and Policy at the Ministry of Health and a member of the National Oversight Mechanism for the programme, commended the remarkable progress made in just six months, citing visible improvements across the district as a direct result of the intervention.
“I have been involved with this programme right from its inception, and I’m proud that Uganda became one of its major beneficiaries,” Dr. Byakika said with gratitude, commending the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Makerere University, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals, Wakiso District and the development partners for supporting the initiative. She emphasised the value of this partnership in strengthening leadership and management competencies among Wakiso District health managers to address critical performance gaps in health service delivery.
“Wakiso is Uganda’s largest and most populous district, yet it has long underperformed on key health indices. Despite its semi-urban nature, it faces enormous health service delivery challenges, partly due to the overwhelming burden on its District Health Officer, who oversees more than 60 public and over 340 private health facilities. Many of these private facilities open and close frequently, complicating service oversight,” Dr. Byakika observed with concern.
Her sentiments were echoed by the District Health Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Mukisa, in a message delivered by Wakiso District Biostatistician, Mr. Frank Kakande. He noted that the project had contributed to a noticeable shift in the district’s health system performance, with visible improvements in leadership, communication, and accountability among facility in-charges beginning to translate into better overall health service delivery outcomes.
“You cannot talk about management without addressing performance: they go hand in hand. As someone who sits at the centre of district health data, I can confidently say that performance has improved. During the most recent national local government performance assessment, where I participated in the evaluation, Wakiso District’s health department ranked 18th out of 146 districts. That health ranking is a major achievement. We have consistently performed poorly in the past, but this time, we made significant progress,” Mr. Kakande told the attentive audience, speaking with an air of relief and satisfaction.
The Wakiso District Biostatistician credited part of this progress within the district, from the poor performance last year, to the leadership training and mentorship delivered through the project, citing visible improvements across key health indicators. He stressed the need to sustain this momentum through continued mentorship, internal capacity strengthening, and consistent application of the skills acquired by health managers, particularly in tackling persistent management challenges such as absenteeism, delegation, and accountability.
“Last week, I held a performance review at Kakiri Health Centre III, and the improvements were clear. These management skills are making a difference. You can see the change across indicators. But what matters now is sustainability. The support provided through supervision and mentorship was essential. But it’s up to us to keep the fire burning. We have learned a lot: communication skills, problem-solving, time management, and decision-making. Managers are now communicating better. Even issues like absenteeism are being addressed through proper reporting and action,” Mr. Kakande said.
Earlier, Dr. Musoke, presenting the overall project overview and success, explained that based on initial findings from the baseline and needs assessment, the team co-designed and delivered a structured six-month capacity-building programme targeting 60 health facility in-charges in Wakiso District. The programme blended in-person and virtual sessions, combining practical training with one-on-one mentorship, and included an exchange component between Uganda and the UK to promote international exposure and peer learning. This allowed the health managers to apply new skills to strengthen health outcomes in Wakiso.
“This project rightly focused on addressing gaps in leadership and management. I advocated for including this component in the programme, because our national health review missions consistently show that poor performance often stems from weak leadership and management,” Dr. Byakika affirmed, adding that: “I am pleased to see that nearly all public facilities in Wakiso participated. While the project had a short implementation window, the evaluation already shows encouraging results. Health managers feel more empowered, motivated, and aware of their roles. That’s a significant step.”
For her part, Dr. Sheba Gitta, Uganda Country Director for Global Health Partnerships, formerly Tropical Health and Education Trust, applauded the leadership and management capacity-building initiative in Wakiso as a timely, locally driven intervention. She underscored the value of two-way learning between Uganda and the UK health systems through the programme, noting that Global Health Partnerships works closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure all funded initiatives align with Uganda’s national development priorities.
“What excites me most is that this was not a pre-packaged programme imported from the UK. The training was co-created by partners, based on local realities and needs. That approach reflects strong collaboration between Makerere University School of Public Health and Nottingham Trent University. I thank Prof. Linda Gibson for her continued commitment and Dr. David Musoke for his proactive leadership in bringing this programme to life. Your consistency and quality of work continue to stand out,” Dr. Gitta shared.
While commending the progress made, she cautioned against “pilotism”, as a tendency for promising projects to end prematurely, calling for the model to be scaled up nationally. To support sustainability, she stressed the importance of documenting the training process, outcomes, and costs to inform ministry-level decision-making and long-term adoption.
Dr. Gitta joined Prof. Linda Gibson, the UK Lead for the Project, to encourage the trained managers to become champions of leadership within their facilities and districts, ensuring that the impact of the programme endures beyond its current cycle. She also thanked NHS England and the UK Government for their trust and investment in Uganda’s health system.
-
Education1 week agoAdmission List to Bachelor of Education External (BED) 2025/26 -Private Sponsorship
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoClimate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative: 30 Masters, 6 PhD Scholarships 2025/2026
-
General1 week agoMaster’s Scholarship Opportunities: Call For Applications – Faculty Initiated Ideas
-
Research2 weeks agoUganda’s National ID Delivers $1.35 for Every $1 Invested
-
General2 weeks agoDirectorate of Graduate Training Conducts a Training for Trainer of Trainees in Scholarly Writing & Communication Skills