To put the life and work of Dr. Absalom Kenneth Oteng and his impact on the world in perspective, consider that between 1844 and 1884, 95% of the cattle population in the areas known as Uganda was wiped out by a disease called rinderpest (the German word meaning "cattle plague"). Although confined to animals, reinderpest was one of the two most devastating animal diseases in the world. The other disease is sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis) which is caused by a parasite that is spread by tsetse flies (Family: Glossinidae, Genus: Glossina).

As far back as the 1930s or 1940s, it was determined by the international community that both of rinderpest and trypanosomiasis had to be eradicated from the face of the Earth. For a long time, this international effort was centered at the Uganda Veterinary Research Institute at Entebbe. By the 1960s Dr Oteng was the Director General of the Institute and at the forefront of the eradication campaigns for both rinderpest and Trypanosomiasis.

At the end of the 1960s, the eradication of rinderpest was in sight, and much headway had been made against the tsetse fly. Then, Idi Amin came and scuttled the whole work. Scientists were killed and many fled to other countries. Dr Oteng held on, but also had to run away to save his life in 1977. Between 1971 and 1979, rinderpest raised it ugly head again in Uganda and became a big problem. This also affected other places, in the East, Central and Southern African Region and beyond. Areas that had been cleared of tsetse fly also became re-infested again. .....

But good news was on the way. …. Soon after the fall of Idi Amin, Uganda's epizoological researchers regrouped, with Dr. Oteng joining them from exile. Arguably, this may be one of the most effective groups of research scientists ever assembled anywhere for any task. Work took off where it had been frustrated by Idi Amin and other factors. There were many more young researchers who had been honed and sharpened by the difficult years, and were eager to build a different and better Uganda and world.

In 1994, the World Health Organisation and FAO declared Uganda free of rinderpest, the last case having been seen in 1994 in Moroto district. What is more, in 2011 WHO and FAO confirmed the rinderpest had been eradicated from the whole world. This made rinderpest the second and only other disease in history to be fully wiped out (outside laboratory stocks). The first disease to ever be fully eradicated was smallpox whose last case was in Somalia in 1977. By the mid-1990s, tsetse-caused trypanosomiasis was also in a serious retreat.

Dr Oteng was one of the prime movers of the scientific revolution that eliminated one of the world’s worst scourges. In 2018, there were reports that even at 101 years old, Oteng was still being consulted on scientific matters from his retirement home in Lira. He was also still driving his car. One wonders why a person like Dr Oteng and his collaborators never even ever get mentioned for a Nobel Prize or other accolades!

A few days ago, I met a group of Ugandans who stay with me in the Far East Asian city where I live. May be not so surprising, none of these compatriots had ever heard of Dr Absalom Kenneth Oteng. Neither had any of them ever heard of the Uganda Veterinary Research Institute or the role and global impact of Ugandan scientists in epizoological and epizootonic research and disease eradication and alleviation. One has to be left wondering whether and how Uganda as a country and Ugandans as people ever recognise and pay respect to any Ugandan, like Dr Oteng, whose main claim in life was to have just lived up to the motto on the country’s court of arms, that says, plainly and simply: “For God and Our Country”.

To be very fair to Dr Oteng, anyone who knew him would vouch that he never did anything in this world in which he was seeking personal recognition or gain. He would also be the first person to say that he would never ever alone take credit for any of the work that led to the eradication of rinderpest and also put the dreaded tsetse flies on the run. Over the years, and up to today, other scientists have worked on the causes. Dr Oteng would want his name to be mentioned in the same breath as all the other people that worked on the issues that he cared about. Some of these people have passed on, but many of the younger one who did the big push after the 1970s are still alive.

Uganda’s rollcall of honour of these epizootonic workers, some deceased and many still alive today includes: Dr. Kenneth Oteng, Dr. J. C. Nondo, Dr. Kebba Kinani, Dr. Sserwadda, Dr. Thomas Bamusonighe, Dr. Mark Onega, Dr. Charles Kudamba, Dr. Rose Ademun, Dr Elizabeth Kyewalabye, Dr. Erasmus Rwamushwa, Dr. Emily Kabushenga Twinamasiko, Dr. Fred L Musisi, Dr. Charles Kivumbi, Dr. Njabala Tonda, Dr. Chris Rutebarika, Dr Chris Rubaire, Dr. Noelina Nantima, Dr. Nicholas Kauta, and other veterinary scientists and administrators.

During Dr Oteng’s exile, he had worked in Tanzania and other Southern Africa countries on those  countries’ animal disease eradication programmes. One of his biggest successes during that time was in Tanzania which people used think had an insurmountable tsetse fly problem. Tsetse was not eliminated in Tanzania, but it is under control. It is said that when Dr Oteng was getting ready to return to Uganda after the fall of Idi Amin, several countries offered him citizenship so he could remain in those countries. He preferred to complete the work that he and others had started in his beloved Uganda.

A person who beautifully lived out his Christian life with his family and community, at his work places and in other ways, Dr Oteng was a Canon of the Church of Uganda. His life will be celebrated at two funeral services: on Thursday 7 Feb 2019 - Funeral Service at All Saints Church, Nakasero, Kampala at 9:00 a.m., and on Friday 8 Feb 2019 at Barr Ogole Cathedral, Lira at 9:00 am. His earthily remains will be committed to the ground on Saturday 9 Feb 2019 at Barr, Lira at a burial service that will start at 10:00 a.m.