Odongo’s Journey Should Inspire Public Servants, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa

What the report says

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has praised the career of Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Executive Director Dan Odongo as a model of diligence and public service. According to Watchdog Uganda, Tayebwa made the remarks on Friday evening at Hotel Africana during the launch of Odongo’s book, which recounts his rise from a rural upbringing to the leadership of the examinations body.

Tayebwa said Odongo’s work at UNEB showed the value of steady and accountable leadership. He pointed to the absence of repeated parliamentary disputes over Odongo’s performance as evidence of effective service, and argued that leadership should be judged by commitment, honesty and results rather than titles. He also told teachers and educators that Odongo’s story showed the classroom can be a pathway to broader national service.

Odongo, who has led UNEB since 2016, said the book was meant to preserve lessons from his personal and professional journey. The publication, titled From Humble Beginnings: The Journey of a Teacher Who Rose to Lead a Nation’s Trust, traces his early life in Ofiru village in Lalogi, Omoro District, his teaching career and his rise through UNEB’s ranks. The report said he joined the institution in 1989 as an assistant secretary in charge of biological sciences before eventually becoming chief executive.

The story matters because UNEB oversees Uganda’s national examinations, making its leadership important for the education system and public confidence. More broadly, the event framed Odongo’s career as an example of how long public service, especially in education, can lead to senior national responsibility.