Odongo: A committed, great leader takes over UNEB

Just in case you read the handwriting of the new executive secretary for Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Daniel Nokrach Odongo, remember you are seeing the same handwriting of his deceased, a father Ignatius Okello; the brain behind his success.

Though his father was less schooled, having dropped out of school in Primary Three, due to lack of fees, Okello monitored his son's academic progress tightly. As other boys would be running around in the bush and playing, he would never let his step out of the house, till he has finished his homework.

The surprising bit is that, even when Odongo reached secondary, his father would summon him; to look through his class work. "The passion of never giving up, and fighting to succeed no matter the situation; is what my father inculcated in me," Odongo says.

Odongo is an eloquent speaker - an attribute he says he picked from his mother, who is also less educated. As he narrates, he hastens, and says, "I wish my father was here to see how far I have reached."

Odongo is refereeing to getting to the helm of the country's top assessment body. Much as his parents were not highly educated, they valued his studies and as of today, he heads the country top assessment body.

Odongo, a name he was given at birth, as a remembrance of his grandfather; is said to be a committed, self-driven, serious and approachable man.

Odongo, who will be taking the most top office at UNEB's building in Ntinda in April 1, this year; for the five years with an option of renewing his contract; says he picks so much of his professional attributes from his boss Mathew Bukenya.

"He (Bukenya) is an intelligent, honest and God fearing man. He so prayerful and respects people; attributes and values I will maintain in this place."

Odongo, has for years, worked in UNEB and has gone through ranks to rise to the helm.

He a schooled leader too! Odongo has a Master's Degree in Education he obtained in 2001, and also did both a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture a diploma in education concurrently and completed them in 1975.

Born in Parak village in Gulu district in 1951, Odongo has lived an illustrious career. He was, according to most people, one of the best candidates to replace Bukenya, having been by his side, as he built the now respected national examinations Board.

Great ride

Ondongo started his career as secondary school teacher in in 1975 at Kitgum High School. He was later promoted to head the department of agriculture in the same school in 1979 before he took over the deputy headmaster's office in 1983. Years later in 1985 he was made the headteacher of St. Thomas More SS, Minakulu Gulu for a period of five years.  

Odongo is not new to his new office location. He understands UNEB well, having joined it as an examiner with the East African Examination Council in 1978 to 1982.

He later became a chief examiner for the O'level agriculture subject in 1983 to 1989 and later was later allowed to join the panel that sets agriculture exams from 1987 to 1989. During this time (1987 to 1989), he was again promoted to become the chief examiner for A'level in agriculture.

In 1990 he was appointed an assistant secretary at UNEB and served in the same position for six years. Odongo was made a Senior assistant Secretary in January of 1996, and served in that position for only six months before he was appointed in acting capacity to be office of the deputy of the executive secretary of UNEB. He was put in charge of secondary schools examinations.

He was later confirmed in the same position, in 2004; till his promotion to the helm of this examinations body.

He has his name of several academic papers he has researched and has made presentations for years, all over the world.

Odongo was committed to go through ranks, wherever he served, exemplified by his service at Kitgum High and later at UNEB. "At the start of my first job at UNEB, I did not imagine I would head it later. But, as years passed and I got into management, I got confident that if given a chance, I would should lead the team in this place," Odongo says, when asked if he dreamt of this job decades back.

He says that his professional goal in life, "Has been to become an evidence-based test development expert," and his personal goal, "to provide service above self to all I serve."

"I am a result oriented, self-driven person with a pleasant personality land excellent communication skills," he says.

He adds that he relates easily and well with my superiors, peers and subordinates. "I'm able to inspire my staff to achieve our objectives.  I have a passion for had work aimed at achieving targets."

"I believe in team work and sharing information or knowledge I have with colleagues," he adds.

At UNEB, he has been the deputy to Bukenya and has been handling a very resourceful office, which has later helped him go for the top sit.

He has been in charge of planning, controlling, implementing and coordinating the preparation of question papers, on top of conducting examinations. He had to also ensure that the examination papers met the validity criteria; among several other assignments.

Outside office

Outside office, he is a family man, and a patron of St. Paul Choir, Our Lady of Africa Parish in Mbuya.

This Independence Medallist, awarded by President Yoweri Museveni last year, loves soccer, watching wildlife films and travelling, especially to wildlife sanctuaries.

What others say

Prof. Albert James Lutalo-Bosa, who was the UNEB Chairman from 2002 to 2012, says that, "Odongo is a very systematic worker."

"Odongo's competences are quite high and the time I was at UNEB I found him effective. He is very analytical and a great leader in his section," Prof. Lutalo-Bosa adds.

He also notes that, "We then wanted to introduce high technology at UNEB and Odongo was committed to seeing students get results through sms, and we had made this by the time I left UNEB."

"At the time," he adds, "Odongo had already started proposing how we could use technology to see that we reduce the time of releasing results, by advancing the processing of results. This project was piloted recently and that is why you see that Primary Leaving Examinations have come out earlier."

"He is a kind of person who will drive UNEB to another level," Prof. Lutalo-Bosa adds, "He has the capacity to create team work at UNEB. The choice was great."

Francis Agula, a former commissioner for Government-aided secondary schools says that, "To be the UNEB boss, you must know the problems of teachers, schools, parents, and government, which Odong understands quite well."

"He was the most suitable candidate for that post, because of his professionalism and technical development in UNEB activities," Agula says, adding that, "Odongo has gone through the ranks, from a teacher, deputy head teacher, and head teacher. He was also a secondary school examiner for quite a long time."

"UNEB is not new to him. I believe he will carry UNEB to greater heights. Even when he was in the secondary education department as a head teacher, he carried no corruption track record," Agula adds.

The education ministry's former minister Namirembe Bitamazire says that, "Odongo is a person of high integrity and has been at UNEB and knows how the system works."

"When I was in office, I never had any negative reports about him. He knows the details of making an exam body credible, and with all the technical knowledge he has, he should be able to run UNEB efficiently," she says.

She cautions that, "Selection bodies should pay attention to integrity, so that we do not get self-centered individuals in some of these positions. Odongo is just a perfect man for the job."

Meanwhile, Agaba predecessor, John Agaba, who is very experienced with education matters of this country, says that, "The board made the right decision for purposes of continuity. It would have been catastrophic if we had got someone else. Odongo will steer UNEB to greater heights."

More so, the state minister for higher education, Dr. John Muyingo says that, "Odongo was the best candidate. He is very disciplined, hardworking and committed to his work. The position deserved someone like Odongo, who is honest and has his country at heart. He has the energy and experience that UNEB needs."

Even the headteachers we talked to are excited about Sodongo's appointment. Immaculate Epenu, the headteacher for PMM Girls in Jinja says that, "Odongo know how to handle people with different personalities."

"Odongo has a very approachable and pleasant character. His dedication and love for his country will take UNEB a greater organisation."


(Additional reporting by Clare Muhindo)