“WHEN you study agriculture, you can do anything in the world,” says Edward Nantamu. “You get to study genetics, entomology, horticulture, crop and animal husbandry, bio-chemistry, sociology, economics and that makes you an all- rounder.”

And that is how Nantamu, who studied agriculture at Makerere University, switched from farming to environmental protection. “At first, I had wanted to be a doctor, but when I was admitted at Makerere I was offered my second choice which was agriculture,” he says. Nantamu adds that he had no choice but to take the course since there was only one university at the time.

“It was the best decision someone else has ever made for me,” he adds. He is now a senior environmental health specialist working with the Fairfax county Air Quality Monitoring Network in the US.

With an annual budget of $6b, Fairfax county in Virginia has a population of 1.2 million. Its median household income is the highest in the US.

The air monitoring programme measures the levels of air quality to ensure it is safe for citizens to breathe to protect public health and welfare of plants and animals.

“We monitor the air for pollutants that have the potential to affect human health and the environment. These are smog/ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead and suspended particulates,” he says.

Nantamu also does air quality legal and policy work, where he assists in reviewing proposed environmental legislations. He also interacts at the environmental policy forum through the Washington Metropolitan Council of Government’s Air Quality and Technical Advisory Committees.

In addition, he is a member of the Incident Command Staff which keeps abreast of emergency operations plans. In the event of an emergency, Nantamu is responsible for preparing a hazard risk analysis and mitigation for the incident, provide a safety message, review medical plans and participate in preparing incident action plans.

Nantamu has worked for the Fairfax county government in various positions since October 1987. He has worked as an environmental laboratory analyst, where he conducted analyses in support of environmental programmes. He has also worked as an environmental technologist and industrial waste inspector.

He was responsible for the implementation of the national pre-treatment programme under the US’s Clean Water Act.

Long before that, Nantamu worked at the Uganda People’s Congress secretariat, office of mobilisation in Kampala in 1982. Ben Wacha was his immediate boss. He then worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as an immigration officer from 1983 to 1987.

Education
Nantamu, who was a beneficiary of the Madhvani Foundation scholarships from 1971 to 1972 while at St. Edwardas School Bukkumi, has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Makerere University.

He then went to CCM Ideological College (now Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy) in Kivukoni, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania to study public administration and management. In 1990, he joined the Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Virginia where he studied Geographical Information Systems, Computer Programming and Sub-urban Development. Thereafter, he joined John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland for a masters degree in environmental services in 1996.

On the job
Environmental factors play a central role in human development, health and disease, Nantamu says. “Poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status already may be at risk. For example, poor air may have it greatest impact on people with asthma or impaired immune systems.”

Nantamu believes he is contributing to the enhancement of the quality of life in the US with his engagements in “community level intervention, prevention and education of adverse health effects transmitted through food, soil, drinking and surface water, recreational water, vectors and ambient air.”

Any plans to work back home?
“The retirement age in Uganda is about 50 and I am 53 years old. I believe no one would employ me without violating the law. I am, however, very interested in doing voluntary work. I have more than 20 years experience in environmental health,” Nantamu says.

Advice to Ugandans
“I encourage Ugandans to engage deeply in volunteer activities. As the late John F. Kennedy said, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” We owe it to our country to make it a better place to live and instead of always asking our country to take care of us, we need to take care of our country.”

He further advises that an individual should have a development plan and follow theirpassion. “For those who are already at work, try to tailor your individual development plan to the vision and mission of your organisation. It is always important to believe in oneself and have values,” he adds.

Nantamu is a member of the Fairfax County Urban Tree Action Plan and has been awarded a certificate of appreciation from the Commonwealth of Virginia for generous spirit of volunteerism and commitment to citizen stewardship.

He also has a honors award from the US health Department, Fairfax County for Setting the Standard for Good Health and a Safe Environment.