By William Opio
“I lived with strangers who treated me like part of the family.” That’s one indelible memory that Mary Achuma carries with her to this day.
In 1979, Achuma’s father, Alphonse Achuma, was forced to flee into exile because of the political tension in Uganda, leaving his daughter with a family she had never known before. Achuma had been living with her father near his workplace. As such, his sudden decision to go into exile meant he could only leave her with their neighbor.
The way Achuma was treated in her new home gave her the confidence to be outgoing and to easily connect with others while at school. While in secondary school, she amplified that character, becoming more outspoken, something she says made her a reliable team player.
“I worked well with people,” she says. “Even when not everyone liked me.”
That kind of attitude has seen Achuma successfully climb the academic and professional ladder. Today, she is a holder of Master of Public Health from Uganda Christian University (UCU) and is the current Principal of Kaabong College of Nursing and Midwifery in northeastern Uganda.
She says her path into a career in nursing wasn’t planned, but felt like it was. After spending three weeks in Kilembe Mines Hospital in western Uganda as a patient, Achuma experienced firsthand what it meant to be cared for. The nurses who attended to the 10-year-old left a lasting impression on her.
“They made me feel safe,” she says. “That stayed with me.”
That feeling grew into admiration and, eventually, into a decision to become a nurse. Later, her involvement with the Uganda Red Cross Society as a volunteer only deepened that desire.
Achuma later joined UCU, where she pursued a Bachelor of Nursing Science. For her, UCU provided a fertile ground that shaped how she thought, communicated and related with others.
“It was a focused journey,” she says. “I knew what I wanted.”
One experience that stood out for her while at UCU was studying the worldview, something she admits she didn’t initially take seriously.
“Later, I realized how important the course unit is in real life,” she says.
Achuma’s leadership journey began in northeastern Uganda while she served as the Academic Registrar at Soroti School of Comprehensive Nursing and, later, the Deputy Principal. Then came a turning point, an opportunity for her to assume the apex position of another nursing school in the region.
As the Principal of Kaabong College of Nursing and Midwifery, Achuma’s work goes beyond administration. She is also deeply involved in research, particularly in maternal and child health. Her focus on postnatal care, sanitation and hygiene comes from what she has observed on the ground.
“Many complications are preventable,” she explains. “Simple hygiene practices can save lives.”
Her work has contributed to improved health practices and increased male involvement in maternal care, something often overlooked. For all these efforts, in 2023, she was recognized as the Best Principal of the Year at the National Higher Education Conference held at Entebbe Imperial Botanical Resort Hotel.
But the journey hasn’t been as easy. Achuma did not move through education in a straight line. Financial challenges, family responsibilities and delays along the way tested her resolve. Still, she kept going, with support from mentors and family. She says her mother, Modesta Apilli Achuma, a house wife, gave her the emotional support and mentorship she needed to succeed in life. Achuma is a mother of two and also looks after an adopted child and six dependents.
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