SMACK 70S OBs award Prof Kaleebu
It was a pleasure moment as Charles Mbire hosted the SMACK 1970s OBs dinner at Kampala Serena Hotel this week.
The OBs danced to the old tunes of the 1970s with glee and thereafter Prof. Ponsiano Kaleebu of UVRI was awarded for outstanding contributions to the nation and the world as a top Scientist.
This is the second time Prof. Kaleebu is being recognized. In 2020 at this same time, the good professor of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Director Prof Pontiano Kaleebu was awarded for his excellent contribution towards the fight against viruses in Uganda.
Prof Kaleebu was awarded in recognition of his leadership and dedication to the technical fight against COVID-19 and other viruses in the country.
The award was handed to him by then Uganda’s Vice President Edward Sekandi as the World marked the World Science Day for Peace and Development.
The Award Ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Meanwhile, Uganda Virus Research Institute’s John Kayiwa received the Allied Health Worker of the Year Award 2020.
Kayiwa, the laboratory manager in the Arbovirology department at the UVRI was recognised for excellent work and selfless devotion during the COVID-19 response in Uganda. Kayiwa and the entire lab team at UVRI have contributed to providing timely and quality test results of the COVID-19 samples since the pandemic was reported in the country.
The Allied Health Worker of the Year Award 2020 is one of the categories of Heroes in Health Awards intended to recognise dedicated and talented foot soldiers, practitioners, academics, organizations and other sector partners who dedicate their careers, time, life and resources to providing exemplary care, innovation and service to Ugandans countrywide.
So, the Monday evening event at Serena Kampala Hotel was also another epoch to beckon on. Prof Kaleebu has emerged the outstanding even among the 1970s OBs.