Otukei Godfrey Francis

Francis has always been eager to advance his education and advance his knowledge within the medical field. He initially was selected for the CROSO Scholarship in 2008 and completed his certificate in laboratory disease diagnostics at the Jinja School of Medical Lab Technology. He was then able to continue his studies in clinical medicine at Kampala International University from 2009-2013 and graduated with a diploma. In 2016,  Francis began his bachelor’s degree program in medicine and surgery from Kampala International University as well. Francis has always been confident in his dream of becoming a doctor, but completing each new level of academics gives him a clear sense of progress toward making his dream turn into a reality. 

Since Francis has always known he wanted to be a doctor, he takes his education seriously. Francis is enrolled in classes and labs that require him to be at school everyday, except Sunday, and his courses include physiology, anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. During his time on campus at Kampala International University, he was recognized by his peers as a clear leader and was elected class president.  

Vision for the Future: 

Francis has expressed his desire to eventually open a clinic that offers affordable medical services to women and children throughout his community. Francis will be uniquely equipped with the knowledge to do so since he is specializing in gynecology and obstetrics. Francis is motivated to do this because he has recognized an immense need for support of mothers across Uganda. He shared, “Most mothers are having a problem with hospitals, so my vision is to see that those mothers do not continue suffering.” 

More on Francis’s Background:

When Francis was little, he lived with his mother, father, and brother. The district his family was living in was attacked by rebels, and the rebels burned houses down, raided cattle, and took all of his family’s property along with neighboring houses and communities as well. As a result, his father was killed and his mother was severely beaten. He and his remaining family ended up in Mbale where his mother passed away and he was left on the streets to beg for food as a means to survive. Francis’s determination to survive manifested in a determination to succeed academically., He had hopes of  helping people who have been in similar situations as him. When Francis was a child, he needed an operation but the doctor refused to see him since he was a street child. Eventually, Francis received the medical support that he needed, but this experience motivated him to begin pursuing a career in the medical field.