Rachel Birungi Asiimwe is the Principal Assistant Secretary (PAS) at UVRI and part of the Senior management team at UVRI, February 2026. Rachel is a seasoned public sector administrator and operations executive with over two decades of leadership experience in finance, administration, human resource management, institutional governance, and research management. She has built an accomplished career leading organizational transformation, strengthening institutional systems, mobilizing resources, and driving operational excellence within Uganda's public health and education sectors.

As Head of Finance and Administration, Rachel is a member of the Institute's Senior Management Team, providing strategic leadership to ensure the achievement of the Uganda Virus Research Institute's mission of advancing health research while maintaining operational excellence.

Her key responsibilities include:-

•    Providing strategic leadership in finance, administration, operations, and institutional management.
•    Developing and implementing financial and administrative strategies aligned with the Institute's strategic objectives.
•    Coordinating institutional budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation while ensuring accountability for both government and donor funds.
•    Overseeing finance, human resource management, procurement, internal audit, information technology, communications, and administrative services.
•    Managing donor-funded research programs and ensuring compliance with financial regulations and grant requirements.
•    Leading institutional fundraising initiatives, partnership development, and collaboration management.
•    Negotiating research agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), contracts, indirect cost recovery arrangements, and grant overheads.
•    Strengthening operational systems, policies, and procedures across headquarters and field offices.
•    Leading institutional risk management, business continuity planning, and governance initiatives.
•    Coordinating documentation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of research projects and institutional programs.

Throughout her tenure, she has played a central role in positioning UVRI as a financially sustainable, operationally efficient, and globally competitive health research institution.

Previous Assignments
Senior Human Resource Manager, Ministry of Health, Uganda August 2007 – October 2013
In this role, Rachel provided strategic leadership in health workforce management and human resource systems strengthening. 
Her responsibilities included: -

•    Coordinating and managing the Human Resources for Health Information System (HRHIS).
•    Planning recruitment, deployment, and retention strategies for health workers in hard-to-reach areas.
•    Coordinating implementation of health worker bonding programs.
•    Monitoring workforce performance across the health sector.
•    Developing Ministry client charters.
•    Building and sustaining high-performing teams through effective people management.

Human Resource Manager Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda May 2000 – August 2007

Rachel managed strategic human resource functions for the Ministry, including:

•    Strategic workforce planning and talent acquisition.
•    Recruitment and selection of professional staff.
•    Development and implementation of recruitment policies and procedures.
•    Employer branding and talent management initiatives.
•    Performance monitoring and continuous improvement of recruitment systems.

Rachel's professional interests include:

•    Strategic leadership and institutional governance
•    Operations and administration management
•    Financial management and public sector accountability
•    Research administration and grants management
•    Institutional sustainability and business model development
•    Human resource management and organizational development
•    Resource mobilization and partnership development
•    Public health systems strengthening
•    Risk management and business continuity planning
•    Organizational transformation and change management
•    Policy development and implementation
•    Capacity building and leadership development

Research Interests
Rachel has undertaken research in organizational management, financial sustainability, and human resource development, including studies on:-

•    Business model strategies for financial sustainability of research institutions.
•    Organizational commitment and employee performance.
•    Attraction and retention of health workers in hard-to-reach areas of Uganda.

Rachel possesses extensive expertise in:
•    Strategic planning and execution
•    Operations management
•    Financial planning and budgeting
•    Grant and donor fund management
•    Human resource leadership
•    Institutional governance
•    Stakeholder engagement
•    Negotiation and partnership development
•    Risk management
•    Change management
•    Policy formulation and implementation
•    Team leadership and performance management
•    Public speaking and speaking before kings

She is recognized for her integrity, analytical thinking, sound judgment, strong negotiation skills, effective communication, and ability to manage complex institutions while delivering measurable organizational results.