Esther Nampeera is on study-leave from Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) where she is a Senior Research Assistant.  Throughout her career, she has led numerous research teams, coordinated community-based research projects, and worked extensively with farmer’s groups.  Ms. Nampeera is now pursuing a PhD program at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya. 

Nampeera believes a leader is able to organize, motivate, communicate, respect others, and lead by example.  While she knows her title and position will give her some credibility, she does not believe it will make her a leader.   Her goal is to be in a position of responsibility that will help her to have an impact on Uganda and Africa.  In April 2015, she had the honor of serving as a Next Generation Delegate at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Global Food Security Symposium, where she invited to serve as a representative of both her university and her country.

Ms. Nampeera’s thesis research is looking at the effects of pesticides on Amaranthus varieties.  Amaranth provides a nutrient-dense crop in sub-Saharan Africa; it is adapted, culturally acceptable, and is used in the diet and culture of East Africa.  The research will be very important in generating and advancing scientific knowledge on an indigenous food crop that is increasingly consumed. She plans to finish her PhD in Plant Health Sciences and Management in 2016.