Odongkara Beatrice Mpora

Deputy Chief Directorate of Research and Graduate Training

Dr Beatrice Mpora Odongkara is a Ugandan paediatrician, clinical researcher, and academic leader whose career spans more than two decades of clinical care, teaching, and research in low-resource and post-conflict settings. As an early member of Gulu University’s Faculty of Medicine, she joined in 2004 as a Teaching Assistant in Physiology and went on to help shape paediatric and child health training at the institution.

She holds dual doctorates a PhD from the University of Bergen (2023) and a PhD in Medicine from Makerere University (2024) as well as a Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health, a Fellowship in Diabetes and Endocrinology, and an MBChB from Makerere University. At Gulu University, she has progressed from pioneer Teaching Assistant to Senior Lecturer, former Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and is currently Deputy Chief in the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training.

Her research focuses on neonatal and child health, diabetes and endocrine disorders, and implementation science in resource-constrained settings. She has led and contributed to multi-site studies and randomised trials, including a safety study of modified bubble CPAP for children with respiratory distress and a cluster-randomised trial demonstrating that adding video debriefing to Helping Babies Breathe training improves retention of neonatal resuscitation skills among Ugandan health workers. Her community-based studies have examined low birthweight and preterm birth, newborn care practices, breastfeeding, nutrition, and family planning in northern Uganda.

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Qualifications

Institution Period Degree obtained
Makerere University – University of Bergen 2018-2023/24 Distinction and Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medicine
Makerere University 2005-2008 Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health
European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and the Paediatric Endocrine Training Centre for Africa, Nairobi, Kenya 2011-2012 Fellowship in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology
Nabisunsa Girls School 1996-1998 UACE
Sacred Heart School 1995 UCE
Madera Girls School 1991 PLE

Research Interests

Endocrinology and diabetology across the lifespan; paediatrics and child health; neonatology; clinical trials; medical education; mentorship; traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine; global health; One Health; cardiometabolic diseases; pharmacokinetics of medications in breast milk; mother-baby dyads; multidisciplinary research and innovation and industry developments; climate change and global health; reproductive and mental health of young people; and health in conflict and post-conflict settings, pre-/in-service and graduate training.

Publications

Mungai, L.N.W., Njeru, C., Njoroge, A., Maina, M., Ilovi, S., Nduati, R. W., Wamalwa, D., Odongkara, B. & Miller, D. E. et al . (2025) . Challenges and opportunities with providing genetic testing and counseling for mucopolysaccharidosis type II in Kenya
Orach, C.G., Otim, G., Aporomon, J.F., Odongkara B, et al . (2025) . Perceptions, attitude and use of family planning services in post conflict Gulu district, northern Uganda
Ongaya, K., Alidri, A., Onen, W. Y., Odongkara, B., & Okumu, C. (2024) . (2024) . Developing a Rational Policy on Plagiarism for Institutions of Higher Education: A Case of Gulu University . East African Journal of Education Studies, 7(3)
Mungai L. W., Abdalla A.T., Msuya L. J., Odongkara B, Iroro Y., Ameyaw E., Bodieu A.C., Majaliwa E. S, Mandilou S.V.M., Vincent O Omondi, Ragnar Hanas, Mohamed Abdullah, Omondi V. O. . (2024) . The ASPAE 2024 Paediatric and Adolecsent Diabetes Ketoacidosis Guideline
Nankabirwa, V., Mukunya, D., Ndeezi, G., Odongkara, B., Arach, A. A., Achora, V., ... & Tumwine, J. K. (2024) . (2024) . Can an integrated intervention package including peer support increase the proportion of health facility births? A cluster randomised controlled trial in Northern Uganda . BMJ open, 14(1)
Arach, A.A.O., Nakasujja, N., Rujumba, J.,Mukunya D., Odongkara B., et al . (2023) . Cultural beliefs and practices on perinatal death: a qualitative study among the Lango community in Northern Uganda . BMC Pregnancy Childbirth , 23(222)
Wu, A., Odongkara, B., Shah, Z. (2022) . (2022) . Bubble CPAP in a Low-Resource Setting . In: : Slusher, T.M., Bjorklund, A.R., Lauden, S.M. (eds) , Pediatric Procedural Adaptations for Low-Resource Settings
Beatrice Odongkara, Victoria Nankabirwa, Grace Ndeezi, Vincentina Achora, Anna Agnes Arach, Agnes Napyo, Milton Musaba, David Mukunya, James K. Tumwine, Tylleskar Thorkild . (2022) . Incidence and Risk Factors for Low Birthweight and Preterm Birth in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda: A Community-Based Cohort Study . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19)
Musaba, M.W., Ndeezi, G., Barageine, J.K., ….. Odongkara B.,….. et al . (2021) . Incidence and determinants of perinatal mortality among women with obstructed labour in eastern Uganda: a prospective cohort study
Bjorklund, A. R., Slusher, T. M., Faulman, A., Howard, C. R., & Odongkara, B. (2021) . (2021) . Forehead Swelling and Fever in a 12-year-old Ugandan Boy , pp. 203-205
David Mukunya, James K Tumwine, Victoria Nankabirwa, Beatrice Odongkara, Justin B Tongun, Agnes A Arach, Josephine Tumuhamye, Agnes Napyo, Vivian Zalwango, Vicentina Achora, Milton W Musaba, Grace Ndeezi, Thorkild Tylleskär . (2021) . Neonatal hypothermia in Northern Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study.
Anna Agnes Ojok Arach, James K. Tumwine, Noeline Nakasujja, Grace Ndeezi, Juliet Kiguli, David Mukunya, Beatrice Odongkara, Vincentina Achora, Justin B. Tongun, Milton W. Musaba . (2021) . Perinatal death in Northern Uganda: incidence and risk factors in a community-based prospective cohort study . Global Health Action
Mukunya, D., Odongkara, B., Piloya, T. et al. . (2020) . Prevalence and factors associated with neonatal hypoglycemia in Northern Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study
Arach AAO,Nakasujja N, NankabirwaV,Ndeezi G, Kiguli J, Mukunya D, Odongkara B, et al. (2020) . (2020) . Perinatal death triples the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in Northern Uganda: A community-based cross-sectional study
Napyo, A., Nankabirwa, V., Mukunya, D. …… Odongkara B,….., et al . (2020) . Prevalence and predictors for unintended pregnancy among HIV-infected pregnant women in Lira, Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Odongkara, B., Tylleskär, T., Pejovic, N., Achora, V., Mukunya, D., Ndeezi, G., … Nankabirwa, V. (2020) . (2020) . Adding video-debriefing to Helping-Babies-Breathe training enhanced retention of neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills among health workers in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial . Global Health Action, 13(1)
Loum, C. S., Wanyama, R., Anywar, D., Odongkara, B. M., & Odongo, P. (2020) . (2020) . Health seeking behaviour of small income market vendors: Diabetes primary care in Gulu Municipality, northern Uganda , pp. 95-98
Mukunya, D., Tumwine, J.K., Ndeezi, G. Tongun JB., Kizito S., Napyo A., Achora V., Odongkara B., Agnes Arach AA, Nankabirwa V., et al . (2019) . Inequity in utilization of health care facilities during childbirth: a community-based survey in post-conflict Northern Uganda . Public Health (Berl.) , 29, pp. 229–237
Nissen E, Svensson K, Mbalinda S., Kajsa Brimdyr, Waiswa P, Odongkara BM, Anna Hjelmstedt (2019) . (2019) . A low-cost intervention to promote immediate skin-to-skin contact and improve temperature regulation in Northern Uganda
Svensson, K., Mbalinda, S., Nissen, E., Odongkara, B. M., Waiswa, P., & Hjelmstedt, A. (2020) . (2019) . Infant behaviour and maternal adaptation after uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact for 1 hour following birth in northern Uganda . African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, 14(1), pp. 1-15
Mukunya, D.; Nankabirwa, V.; Ndeezi, G.; Tumuhamye, J.; Tongun, J.B.; Kizito, S.; Napyo, A.; Achora, V.; Odongkara, B.; Arach, A.A.; et al . (2019) . Key Decision Makers and Actors in Selected Newborn Care Practices: A Community-Based Survey in Northern Uganda . Public Health , 16(1723)
Piloya, T., Odongkara, B., Were, E.M. et al. . (2018) . Nutritional rickets among children admitted with severe pneumonia at Mulago hospital, Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Mbalinda, S., Hjelmstedt, A., Nissen, E., Odongkara, B. M., Waiswa, P., & Svensson, K. (2018) . (2018) . Experience of perceived barriers and enablers of safe uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact during the first hour after birth in Uganda , pp. 95-102
Bjorklund, A. R., Odongkara Mpora, B., Steiner, M. E., Fischer, G., Davey, C. S., & Slusher, T. M. (2019) . (2018) . Use of a modified bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) device for children in respiratory distress in low- and middle-income countries: a safety study . Paediatrics and International Child Health, 39(3), pp. 160-167
Kayina V, Kyobe S, Katabazi FA, Kigozi E,Okee M, Odongkara B, et al. (2015) . (2015) . Pertussis Prevalence and Its Determinants among Children with Persistent Cough in Urban Uganda
Piloya-Were, T., Odongkara-Mpora, B., Namusoke, H. et al. . (2014) . Physical growth, puberty and hormones in adolescents with Nodding Syndrome; a pilot study . BMC Res Notes , 7(858)
Odongkara Mpora, B., Piloya, T., Awor, S. et al . (2014) . Age at menarche in relation to nutritional status and critical life events among rural and urban secondary school girls in post-conflict Northern Uganda . BMC Women's Health, 14(66)
Odongkara, B. M., Kiguli, S., & Edison, M. A. (2013) . (2013) . Factors influencing replacement feeding practices among HIV-positive mothers attending the PMTCT program at Uganda . Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, [online] Volume 8(1). Available at: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.3233/JPI-130376
Odongkara BM, Mulongo G, Mwetwale C, et al . (2012) . Prevalence of occupational exposure to HIV among health workers in Northern Uganda

Projects

Supervision

S/N Students Program and University Completion status and comments
1 Dr Akello Agnes Oburu Master of Medicine Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University Defended Aug 2025 and graduated Jan 2026
2 Dr Tadeo Ssemwogere Master of Public Health Gulu University Thesis correction awaiting submission for examination
3 Okello Leon Master of Molecular Biology and Parasitology Gulu University REC cleared – 7m needed for data collection to begin
4 Dr Lucy W. Mungai PhD Candidate University of Nairobi Thesis writing
5 Dr Gwendoline L. Chimhini PhD Candidate University of Cape Town Ethical clearance underway
6 Gulu University Needs 30m for data collection
7 Dr Anena Rhoda Gulu University GUREC approved, awaiting data collection
8 Dr Latim Emmanuel Gulu University GUREC submitted

More Information

7. More Community engagement
1. Clinician at Gulu Regional Referral and Teaching Hospital – runs the diabetes clinics and NICU wards, and provides consultancy oversight at the Lacor Hospital Paediatric Ward when called upon.
2. Founder of Medical Teams International, Wise Women Uganda and Natural Medicine Society of Uganda
3. Member PTA – Mary Hill High School – Made a motion that has led to zero junk foods in the school canteen
4. Member of Uganda Medical Association (Life Member)
5. Chief Editor – Uganda Medical Journal – overseeing development and rebranding of the Medical Journal for visibility
6. External examiner for Kabale University Undergraduate and postgraduate in Pediatrics and Child Health

Links for more details
Beatrice Odongkara – H-Index Details | AD Scientific Index
Healing Forests: Gulu’s wise women restoring medicinal plant biodiversity despite climate challenges – InfoNile
Healing in Community: Three Acholi Plant Medicines – Wild Forests & Fauna
Herbal Medicine Clinical Trial Site in Offing At Gulu University :: Uganda Radionetwork