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African Union appoints Dr. Julius Oketta to head the AU Ebola operation

Directorate of Information and Communication
Press Release NO. ……../ 2014

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia–10 September 2014: The African Union Commission has appointed Dr.  Julius Oketta to head the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak (Operation ASEOWA) that is deploying civilian and military volunteers from across the continent to ensure that Ebola is brought under control. The mission comprises medical doctors, nurses and other medical and paramedical personnel.

“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.

For more information, visit http://www.au.int

For further information contact

Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Tawanda Chisango | Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182029 | E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens.  AU Vision:to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peacewith itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable,efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/