A trailblazing veterinary surgeon, Dr. Flavia Maria Nakanjako, has played a pivotal role in Uganda’s rabies campaign thanks to her persistent dedication to public health. Throughout her career, she has devoted herself to protecting the health of humans and animals as the Senior Veterinary Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and Fisheries (MAAIF), with a focus on animal and marine diseases. In 2020, the Commissioner of Animal Health assigned Dr. Nakanjako the duty of focal person for rabies in Uganda. Since then, her journey has been characterized by innovative accomplishments and unwavering advocacy.

“There wasn’t even a strategic plan in place when I was appointed the focal person for rabies,” Dr. Nakanjako recalls. “It was intimidating as well as a chance to have a significant influence.” Realizing how urgent the situation was, she enlisted the assistance of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and, in 2022, led the formation of a national stakeholders’ conference that drew nationally significant parties together. At this historic occasion, which was attended by high-ranking officials such as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Commissioner of Animal Health, and the Commissioner from the Ministry of Health, Uganda’s Rabies Elimination Strategy by 2030 was officially validated. “Our efforts took a significant turn when that strategy was confirmed,” she recalls. “It seemed like we were at last on the right track.”

Strategic planning is only a small part of Dr. Nakanjako’s impact. She has spearheaded Uganda’s World Rabies Day celebrations from 2020 to date, and in that capacity, she has become extensively active in community participation, education, and advocacy. She carefully chooses the district to host the event each year in consultation with stakeholders; it’s usually a rabies hotspot. These initiatives, which were once limited to awareness campaigns, have expanded to encompass practical interventions like dog castrations, spaying, and mass vaccination under her direction. “World Rabies Day is a vital platform to raise awareness and encourage action; it’s not just an event,” she stresses. She has become known as the veterinary community’s “Ms. Rabies” due to her ability to unite a wide range of stakeholders, including international partners and local governments, which has been crucial to the success of these events.

She has accomplished many noteworthy things. Uganda’s Rabies Elimination Strategy was validated in 2022 after a major milestone—the organization of the national stakeholders summit. Another noteworthy accomplishment was the smooth organization of a GIZ SEEG-sponsored stakeholders forum that took place in Entebbe, Uganda, in March 2024. Strong political backing for the anti-rabies agenda was provided by the Ministry of Health and MAAIF for this meeting, which produced an action plan for the year’s rabies control efforts. “A strong signal that eliminating rabies is a national priority is sent when the Ministry of Health and MAAIF are on board,” according to Dr. Nakanjako.

Numerous school outreach programs, rabies education initiatives, and extensive dog population control efforts have all been successfully organized by Dr. Nakanjako as part of the World Rabies Day festivities. These occasions have promoted community involvement in rabies control initiatives in addition to increasing awareness. She was a consultant for the training needs assessment for rabies risk communication and community engagement for Uganda by the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) in Arua and Kasese. This study cleared up important misconceptions about rabies in the public, like the idea that witchcraft could cause the disease or that it only goes away when a bite wound heals. “The revelation of people’s beliefs about rabies was one of the most enlightening experiences. It made clear to us how much more needs to be done in the field of community education and risk communication,” she says.

Though Dr. Nakanjako has achieved success, she is well aware of the obstacles still in her way. She frequently talks about how funding for rabies elimination is not prioritized, which leaves gaps in data and causes districts to provide information later than expected. Some groups still believe that rabies is caused by witchcraft, while others question if the elimination of the disease by 2030 is feasible. “You think you can genuinely eliminate rabies by 2030?” is something I’ve heard people ask. “It’s discouraging, but it also serves as a reminder of the need for us to keep moving forward,” she says. Her job is complicated, as evidenced by these obstacles as well as the practical problems of vaccinating 70% of Uganda’s dog population. Unfazed, Dr. Nakanjako continues to promote a more comprehensive One Health strategy that incorporates all pertinent domains, including the local community and the commercial sector.

She feels these important lessons—which she has learned through her work—are essential to the success of efforts to eliminate rabies. Her point is that African nations must scale up their national anti-rabies programs in line with the global rabies elimination strategy. To effectively engage and involve all important stakeholders, their roles must be clearly defined. “A committed group with a rabies-only emphasis is required at the national and district levels. Without it, we’ll be dispersed in our efforts,” she suggests. Additionally, in order to concentrate on the rabies agenda, Dr. Nakanjako enlightened us that the NRES provides for the formation of One Health task forces at both national and district levels for effective implementation of rabies control activities. She emphasizes the value of One Health partnerships, consistent data sharing, and the publication of research results in reputable journals. Moreover, she stresses the necessity of community involvement in rabies control efforts and the crucial role that the business sector can play in funding such activities.

During the October 2023 East and Central Africa Regional Rabies Coordination Meeting in Ethiopia, organized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), among other gatherings, Dr. Nakanjako’s efforts in the fight against rabies were acknowledged. In 2023, representatives from various regions in the region deliberated on ways to fulfill this goal of rabies elimination by 2030. She has demonstrated her dedication to national as well as continental efforts to eliminate rabies by taking part in such regional activities. “Beyond merely Uganda, we have to work together across boundaries to effectively combat the regional issue of rabies,” she says.

She has had a very personal career journey. Dr. Nakanjako studied veterinary medicine at Makerere University, where she graduated in 2011 after being inspired by her mother, who depended on veterinary surgeons for the well-being of her animals. Her knowledge was further expanded upon when Edinburgh University awarded her a Master’s degree in Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, providing an influential foundation for her approach to community-based rabies control. A loving wife and mother of two girls and two boys, Dr. Nakanjako balances a rigorous work life with active participation in the choir at Kamwokya’s Full Gospel Church, maintaining a close-knit family life. She has several significant goals for the future. She now intends to make a greater contribution to scholarly literature, and a small animal clinic in Kampala would be the ideal fit for her long-time passion for dogs. She also hopes to write a book about her experiences in rabies control. “I wish I could do so much more.” All of these things are a part of her journey: writing, practicing, and continuing the rabies fight. The narrative of Dr. Flavia Maria Nakanjako is one of passion, tenacity, and great impact. Her work has inspired a generation of veterinary experts and altered Uganda’s approach to rabies control. Undoubtedly, as Uganda gets closer to its objective of eliminating rabies by 2030, Dr. Nakanjako will remain at the vanguard, spearheading the effort with the same commitment that has characterized her career.