Press Release Nº 215/ 2014
African Union appoints Dr. Julius Oketta to head the AU Ebola operation
“I am confident that Dr. Julius Oketta’s long experience with humanitarian work, commitment to and experience with the control of Ebola will lead to the achievement of the mission objectives”, said Dr Olawale Maiyegun, the Director for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission.
As the Head of Mission he is expected to provide the necessary leadership, advice and guidance to guarantee a smooth and efficient emergency operation.
Career
Dr. Oketta, as a Major General led the Regional Reserve Forces Command when the Uganda People's Defence Force helped in combating the Ebola epidemic in Northern Uganda. He is the Director of the National Emergency Coordination and Operations Center (NECOC) in the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda and has been seconded to the African Union led the humanitarian mission. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and attended Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC).
Dr. Oketta is a Member of the Parliament of Uganda and is currently a Member of the Advisory Board of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UN CERF) and has served as the Chief of Logistics and Engineering for the Ugandan Army. He has over 9 years of experience in the field of civil-military humanitarian response.
