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OUR STORY

In 1996, Mr. George Piwang-Jalobo, while at the University of Oxford was inspired to honor the legacy of his childhood hero, Captain Dr. VL Ongom of Panyagoro-Amor Village, Pakwach District.​Who was Prof VL Ongom?Capt Dr VL Ongom became the "Founding Father" of Academia~Military Partnership in Uganda. He was the 1st Army Captain Doctor and Army Chief Medical Officer who in 1969 transitioned from the Uganda Army Medical Corps to Makerere Medical School (Academia). He rose through the ranks to become a professor in 1975 and the 1st African Director of the Institute of Public Health, Makerere University from 1975-1980. He later died in June 1980.​Prof Capt Dr VL Ongom was Sub-Saharan Africa's pioneer and prolific researcher on the treatment and eradication of Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis). He was most likely the "Team Captain" of Tropical Medicine Research in Makerere Medical School of whom late Prof Ali A. Mazrui said in his Public Lecture in Makerere Main Hall to mark Bank of Uganda (BoU) 40th anniversary on 15th August 2006 as follows:"Our Medical School was heading for a Nobel Prize for research in Tropical Medicine had Idi Amin's coup delayed for another 3 years." Decades later, on 28th June 2018, Piwang-Jalobo realised his dream when, together with Prof VL Ongom's Family, initiated commemoration of the  38th anniversary of Prof VL Ongom death, 1980-2018 and the birth of the VL Ongom Foundation.

 

The occasion was a true celebration of life. It included: ​

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  • An inaugural Prof Capt Dr VL Ongom Memorial Lecture in Makerere Main Hall with Professor Birgitte Vennevauld, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, delivering the Keynote Inaugural Lecture.​

  • HE Gen YK Museveni, the President was Guest of Honour represented by Vice President HE Mr Sekandi. ​

  • Witnesses included "faithful friends like brothers"; Deputy Premier Rt Hon Ali Kirunda Kivejinja: Emeritus Premier Hon Kintu Musoke; and Amb Prof Semakula Kiwanuka and many other former colleagues of Prof VL Ongom. This was possible thanks to active support and leadership of Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe; Dean of MakSPH, Professor Rhoda Wanyenze with active encouragement of the Chairperson of Council, Eng Dr Charles Wana-Etyem.

  • ​In Pakwach, the celebrations continued on 30th June 2018 with the renaming of Pakwach Health Centre IV to Prof VL Ongom Memorial Hospital. This was spearheaded by Hon Omito Robert Steen, the LC5 Chairman, Pakwach District. This ceremony was presided over by Deputy Premier, Rt Hon Ali Kirunda Kivejinja and Emeritus Premier, Hon Kintu Musoke together with Prof VL Ongom's widow, Mrs Cecilia Ongom and family.  This took place on Kapita Hill, Pakwach District Headquarters accompanied by a public rally and traditional Njige dancing.​Prof VL Ongom Memorial Hospital Pakwach is envisaged to grow in strategic partnership with MakSPH and UPDF Medical Services into a Specialist Hospital and Hub of treatment and eradication of Bilharzia other NTDs by 2040 and for Bio-Safety and Bio-Security and into a Regional Centre of Excellence in teaching, training and research.

 

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