Omara Apitta Lamex (Mr.) is a distinguished career Civil Servant, an economist, policy analyst and an avid sports administrator/organizer. He joined the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) on Tuesday December 20, 2022 after he was sworn-in by the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Hon. Richard Butera at the High Court Civil Division – Twed Plaza.

He is well grounded in policy formulation and strategic planning having played a key role in the development of the first National Physical Education and Sports Policy and the creation of the first Physical Education and Sports (PES) Department during his tenure at the at the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). Mr. Apitta also played a key role in the development of PES strategic plans and securing accelerated increment in the PES budget.

He brings to the Commission over 33 years of experience in the Uganda Government Civil Service where he rose through the ranks from the position of Assistant Secretary at the office of the President, to the rank of Commissioner MoES as well as management expertise gained from his previous engagement as the deputy Project Coordinator for the Construction of Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) handling matters of protocol with Chinese Embassy; founder Board Member of the same as well as a founder of Boroboro Sports Club Ltd/Boroboro Football club.

His expertise in project coordination is also an added advantage to the Commission. Mr. Apitta was the Project Coordinator and member of the Government team that introduced and constructed the High performance National High-Altitude Training Centre (NHATC) project at Teryet, Kapchorwa from where Uganda’s elite athletes including Joshua Cheptegei, Halima Naakayi and Stephen Kiprotich train.

His record in building and nurturing teams is also traceable having been a key member of the Government leadership team that has overseen the emergence of Uganda as a Global Sports Powerhouse through sports excellence, beginning with Dorcus Inzikuru, Stephen Kiprotich, Boniface Kiprop, Moses Kipsiro, Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo, Halima Naakayi, Peruth Chemutai, Victor Kiplagat, and many others in Athletics. It is also during his tenure that Uganda Cranes qualified, after 39 years, for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 (Gabon), followed by Egypt 2019; the Uganda National Netball team, the She Cranes, became Africa Champions 2017 and 2018 and played at the Netball World Cup twice (Australia 2017, Liverpool 2019)  and are currently ranked 6th in the world. It was still during his tenure that the Uganda National Basketball team, the Silverbacks, qualified for the Africa Afrobasket Championships 2019/2020, and Uganda Secondary Schools became champions of the East African Secondary Schools (FEASSA) Games, among other international achievements in sports.

Mr. Apitta has an excellent mix of suitable academic qualifications ranging from a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management of Kyambogo University and Certificates in; Strategic Leadership (UMI), Management of China Aid Projects (Beijing, China), Sports Facilities Management (Beijing, China) Corporate Governance, Youth Sports Administration (Lusaka, Zambia), Sports Administration, Management for Results, Project Planning and Management (Details in attached CV).

He holds two Master’s Degrees: a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management (MAPAM) of Makerere University. He is also a holder of a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree in Political Science and Social Administration of Makerere University and a Certificate in Law for Administrative Officers from the Law Development Centre (LDC), Kampala.

He is a well-travelled person, owing to his background in sports administration and management, and he has built a network of resourceful persons in the civil service of Uganda as well as the sports fraternity here and abroad.