On May 14, Lisa Chesney, the British high commissioner to Uganda, formally presented the award of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) to Prof PONTIANO KALEEBU, the executive director of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).
Special congratulations to Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, a Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences and Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), who received a distinguished award from the British monarch, King Charles III. Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu is now an honorary officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The award acknowledges Prof Kaleebu’s distinguished service to education and public health for more than the last 30 years, including 10 years as director and co-founder of UVRI’s partnership with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, 14 years as director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine research unit (LSHTM).
Incidentally, King Charles of United Kingdom recognised Prof Kaleebu’s contributions about a year ago but the award presentation ceremony was not performed due to the transitions at the British High Commission. This is the latest milestones in Prof Kaleebu’s career and in many ways, it is an inspiration to other Ugandan public health researchers.
The presentation ceremony took place on May 15, 2025, at the British High Commissioner's residence in Kololo. Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu heads the viral pathogens research at the Medical Research Council, MRC/UVRI and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, and Chairperson of the Committee of Technical Experts of the Uganda AIDS Commission.
The British High Commissioner to Uganda noted that Prof. Kaleebu's work at both the MRC and UVRI and the decades of leadership in Uganda's public health sector speak to the UK's cherished values of excellence, of dedication and of public service and noted that his contribution advanced science and saved lives.
Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu has authored and co-authored more than 400 publications in peer reviewed journals, including some of the most impactful papers on immunology and ebola vaccine development.