The Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), Dan Nokrach Odongo, has opened up about his difficult childhood and rise to national leadership in his upcoming autobiography, Humble Beginnings.
Odongo says the book is not intended to celebrate his personal achievements, but rather to highlight the role of faith, perseverance, and the support of people who shaped his journey from a struggling learner to the head of Uganda’s examinations body.
“This book is not about glorifying me. It is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, the power of perseverance, and the strength that comes from never giving up,” Odongo says.
The book, which will be launched by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa at Hotel Africana in Kampala, chronicles Odongo’s transformation from a classroom teacher to a head teacher, civil servant, and eventually Chief Executive Officer of UNEB.
Reflecting on his early years, Odongo describes a childhood marked by hardship, including studying under mango trees with a slate and chalk, walking long distances to school on an empty stomach, and struggling to find food.
“Mine is a story of humble beginnings—of a boy who learnt under mango trees with a slate and chalk, of long walks to school on an empty stomach and scavenging for something to eat, of tears shed quietly in homes far from the warmth of my mother’s cooking fire,” he says.
However, Odongo says those challenges also introduced him to kindness, grace, and the belief that every step of his journey had a purpose.
“If my life has taught me anything, it is that no beginning is too small for God to use, and no path is too rough for purpose to unfold,” he says.
He explains that he wrote the book with the hope of inspiring young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, teachers working under difficult conditions, and leaders facing tough decisions.
“I share my stories with deep humility, hoping that someone reading them—a young boy or girl from a remote village, a teacher struggling with limited resources, or a leader facing difficult decisions—will find the courage to press on,” Odongo says.
Looking back on his journey, the UNEB chief says the values instilled in him by his parents, including hard work, faith, discipline, and hope, played a key role in shaping his career.
“From a classroom teacher to a head teacher, from a civil servant to the CEO of UNEB, I have learnt that leadership is not about titles, but about service, honesty, and commitment to the people one leads,” he says.
Odongo adds that holding a position of authority is only the beginning, and that true leadership is measured by one’s actions and impact.
“Your title opens the door, but only your actions earn respect,” he says.
The autobiography, Humble Beginnings, is expected to inspire readers by showing how determination, values, and resilience can help individuals overcome challenging circumstances and achieve meaningful success.
