Ugandan among 34 UK-bound scholars, dreams of solving Karamoja health emergencies

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When Mark Looru heard that he was among Uganda’s 2025/26 Commonwealth Scholars, he could not believe it. 

The news was more than just an academic milestone for Looru, it was the culmination of a dream rooted in his community’s struggles with public health threats and the gaps in data that hinder timely response.

Looru, who hails from the Karamoja region, will be heading to the University of Bristol to pursue a Master's of Science in Medical Statistics and Health Data Science. His focus is to build stronger systems of epidemiological surveillance that can help Uganda, especially Karamoja, respond more effectively to public health emergencies.

Mark Looru on a green cap is among Uganda’s 2025/26 Commonwealth Scholars. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

“I have always been fascinated by the stories of my home area,” he says. 

“In Karamoja, public health threats arise randomly but spread quickly across communities. I desire to enhance the health data systems that support surveillance so that timely interventions can be made.” 

For decades, Karamoja has been plagued by cycles of disease outbreaks, food insecurity and fragile health infrastructure. While interventions often arrive, many come too little too late because surveillance data is either incomplete or delayed. Looru believes that advanced training in health data science will equip him with the skills to change that narrative.

“The course modules at Bristol will deepen my knowledge in epidemiological analysis. This will enable me to support stakeholders in Uganda and Karamoja to respond faster and better to health crises,” he tells New Vision Online.

For Looru, this journey is both personal and collective. His scholarship is not just an opportunity to study abroad but a responsibility to return with solutions that can serve his people.

“Karamoja is my home, and my story is tied to it,” he says.

“When I come back, I want to apply what I have learnt to improve the country’s health data systems. That way, communities won’t have to wait helplessly when diseases strike. We shall be able to intervene quickly and save lives.”

He notes that his vision aligns with Uganda’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, especially in rural and underserved regions.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in data collection and response mechanisms, highlighting the urgent need for specialists in health statistics and data science. Looru believes his training will directly fill that gap.

Looru is among the 21 Ugandans awarded Commonwealth Scholarships this year, joining 13 others on the Chevening programme. Together, the 34 scholars were celebrated at a colourful send-off reception hosted by the British High Commission on August 26, 2025, in Uganda's Capital city, Kampala. The event brought together alumni, government officials, and partners, including the British Council and Prudential Insurance.

Change-makers

Speaking at the flag-off, British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney hailed the scholars as change-makers chosen from thousands of applicants. Chesney noted that last year alone, 2,200 Ugandans applied for Chevening and over 3,000 for Commonwealth.

Speaking at the flag-off, British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney hailed the scholars as change-makers chosen from thousands of applicants. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

“These scholarships are more than academic awards. They are investments in future leaders,” Chesney said.

The education ministry also praised the scholars, noting that each represented Uganda on the global stage. Commissioner Muzamir Mukwatampola, delivering remarks on behalf of the ministry's permanent secretary, urged the scholars to embrace this opportunity with discipline, excellence, and integrity, reminding them that they carried the hopes of their families and communities.

For Looru, those words hit home. He views himself not just as a student but as a bridge between global knowledge and local realities.

“I am going with an open mind, but also with the determination to come back,” he said. “Uganda, and Karamoja in particular, needs robust health data systems. That is where my contribution will be.”

Some of the scholars share a light moment with the British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney at the send off party. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

As he prepares for his year in Bristol, Looru joins an alumni network of more than 100,000 scholars worldwide. It is a network, as the High Commissioner noted, that functions “almost like a family”—one that he hopes to lean on as he builds his expertise.

For now, his story is only beginning. But in his determination, one sees the promise of a young Ugandan who will return not only with a degree but with the tools to strengthen Uganda’s public health defences.

Since 1959, more than 1,900 Ugandans have benefited from the Commonwealth Scholarship, while over 330 have studied in the UK under Chevening since 1983. They now serve across public and private sectors, shaping policy, improving health systems, building infrastructure, and mentoring young leaders.