User:Ronald Odongo

Ronald Odongo is a Ugandan Journalist based in KAMPALA.He has served with several media houses and many of his articles have appeared on BBC, American World Magazine among others.Odongo, is also a media trainer, Public Relation and Communication specialist.He is passonate about security, community development, nature and arts.Currently, Odongo is working with the Uganda's Domestic Intelligence Organisation, a job he secured in 2021, October. Odongo was born on December, 25th,1989, to the family of Late Willy Akuny, former Apac district accountant and Hida Agagi, all from Abongokwot village, Okwaloamara parish,Ogur Sub County in Lira district, (Three children).All died in 1994 and 1996 respectively.ly.

He went to many primary schools for his Primary education including Ibuje in Apac ,Aberdyangoto in Kole, Okwaloamara in Lira and Apiioguru in Kole district where he sat and obtained aggregate 14 in PLE in 2001.

Odongo later joined, Alito SS for S.1 in 2002  where he studied just for one term before dropping out, he soon joined Agweng SS where he studied S.1and S.2 but he later dropped out due to lack of money.

In 2003, Odongo attempted to join Apac Technical School for skills training on job  but still failed to provide requirements and later discontinued.

He then resorted to being a local bicycle boda boda rider and at the same time a drama actor at Radio Unity in Lira town (Winner Drama Group) to earn a  living for a year.

In 2004, Odongo was appointed as a local  bicycle Reporter at radio Unity through the help of a senior journalist and presenter Kim Wegulu who introduced him to Sam Atul, the station manager after identifying his skills.

As a Bicycle Reporter his tasks were to collect daily community updates on any relevant issues at that time and his salary was Shs 25,000 monthly but was paid on installment.

At that time, there was rampant LRA rebels operations within Lango, Teso and Acholi and people were living in IDP camps, therefore there was need for onspot community update

Odongo's first assignment was when Lango people staged a huge demonstration in Lira town protesting continued LRA attacks on Civilians, this attracted international media, UN bodies.

Odongo continued working as a Community Bicycle Reporter until 2005 July, when he suspended for authoring a story exposing shoddy constructions of NUSAF project in Okwang Sub County by a company owned by a friend to one of the radio directors (Danomabor Ltd)

He then went to Radio Lira briefly until December, 2005 when he got another opportunity with Radio Rhino as the Senior News Reporter.Thats same year Odongo sat S.4 from Lango College Town Hall but didn't perform well.

Odongo held this position for one year, and was subsequently appointed as the Radio talkshow host and the programs manager, a position he held until 2011.

But in 2006, after joining Radio Rhino, Odongo got another opportunity to report with Radio Simba, Red Pepper Newspaper, and Uganda Radio Network as freelance reporter based in Lira town.

In 2007, while working for the above media houses, Odongo participated covered the  in Peace talk between government of Uganda and LRA rebels in Juba- Southern Sudan until 2008 when it failed.

In 2009, Odongo went to kyamkwanzi National Leadership Institute for three months and participated in media, state and patriotism training by the government of Uganda (UPDF) before heading  to cover UPDF operation Lightening Thunder in DRC against LRA.

It was during this operation when Odongo came in contact with the American World Magazine based in Washington and subsequently his articles and photographs were published.

Odongo continued working with Rhino as a staff but maintained with Red Pepper Newspaper and Uganda Radio Network as a freelance contributor and paid per article.

In 2010, he was selected to cover the 2011 Presidential election in Lango sub region until 2011 and soon after the election, He resigned from Rhino FM after he was appointed a staff reporter and sent to Gulu town by the Red Peppered.

That same year, Odongo emerged the best freelance writer of the year and was soon appointed the Bureau Chief in 2012 and his first assignment was to cover Walk to Work Protest in Kampala by the opposition (FDC).

ODONGO worked with URN as the Bureau Chief in Lango, Teso and KAMPALA until 2019 December when he resigned to take in another task.

As the Bureau Chief at URN, Odongo mentored, and trained several young journalists within the region and in Teso Sub Region where he served.

In that same 2012,together with other friends, Odongo established Radio QFM 94.3 and was appointed Director News. This was made possible through personal contacts and relationship with his friends including (Dr Mutabazi the UCC ED and Dr Eng HH Okune then Road Fund ED).

In 2013, Odongo cooperated with the joint security forces headed by the former IGP Gen Kayihura during the special operation against increased criminal activities (robbery) in Lira district that claimed the lives of several prominent people including Susan Akidi who was shot dead by the suspected armed robbers.

In 2015, Odongo's first news article was broadcasted on BBC Focus on Africa Program as a freelance contributor in Northern Uganda.He then continued freelancing with BBC World Service until 2019.

Between 2009-15, Odongo as a former LRA rebel victim, extensively covered the International Criminal Court investigations into the LRA rebels insurgents in Northern Uganda. During this investigation, two ICC Chief Prosecutors Mourinho Ocampo and Fatouh Bensuoda.

In Feb 2020, Odongo was appointed as the News Editor at the Red Pepper Kampala, a position he held until December 2020.He was in charge up country news and President's office stories.

In July, 2020, together with another friend, Odongo Bony, a journalist in Lango, his longtime friend whom he met in 2004, Odongo jointly established Teceng Luo Newspaper and online.Again, this was made possible with special support from Ambassadors Julius Peter Motto, Joy Ruth Aceng, Dr Counsel Alex Bashasha and Hon George Odongo.

In November 2020, Odongo was appointed as the Media Researcher at the Pan African Movement Uganda, he also worked with Women Situation Room  Uganda on a temporal contract as the Regional Communication Officer for Northern Uganda, a position he held until April 2021.

In June, 2021, Odongo was appointed by the Lira district Service Commission as the Parish Chief.

In 2015, Odongo won health reporting award by ACME during the Annual National Media Award.Odongo is a Multi media trained journalist, Investigative Enthusiast, Media Trainer and media analyst.

In 2010, Odongo acquired Certificate in Basic Principles of Journalism from UMCAT and in 2015, he also acquired Diploma in Journalism from the same Institution. In 2016, Odongo resat for UCE from Lango College Town and passed. In 2019, Odongo graduated with Diploma in Public Administration and Management at All Saints University Lango-ASUL in Lira town and in 2021,He is also a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Management from the same University.