Loss, Leadership & Love – The Ugandan Visionary Rewriting The Global Healthcare Story

The evening began in reverence with the singing of two national anthems that echoed through the grand walls of London’s Royal Society of Medicine. First Uganda’s, bold and full of hope. Then the United Kingdom’s, solemn and stately. Two nations. One purpose. A moment stitched together by grace, pride and quiet strength.

As the final note of the anthem faded, Cleopatra took the stage after been beckoned by electric energy of the empress of the mic Nancy Kitaka, a general nurse in London. She began by honouring those who had made the journey before those still preparing and those who would one day follow. It wasn’t a mere welcome however a warm welcome to a long-awaited homecoming.

The spark that ignited UG To UK Healthcare wasn’t strategic, it was deeply human. During the pandemic, Cleopatra watched a local carer supported her grandfather with dignity, compassion and grace. “I’ll never forget the woman who cared for my grandfather,” Cleopatra shares, her voice steady but full of emotion. “She wasn’t a nurse but the way she showed up with compassion, consistency and care was everything you’d hope for in a healthcare professional. It made me wonder, what if women like her were supported to go further? What if barriers were replaced with bridges?

At the same time, she was battling the bureaucratic maze of helping a family member pursue a healthcare career in the United Kingdom.

At the heart of it all stood Cleopatra Monday, the woman whose name now resonates across Uganda not because of royal lineage but because of her unwavering mission to empower Ugandan nurses, midwives and doctors to confidently build healthcare careers in the United Kingdom through UG To UK Healthcare, a social enterprise she launched in 2022.

The journey that led to this moment wasn’t polished or predictable. It was deeply personal and born from pain, perseverance and vision.

At a tender age, Cleopatra lost both her parents. Life, as she knew it, changed forever. But even in the quietest moments of grief she discovered something powerful. Resilience can be taught but it’s also inherited.

That early loss would later become the seed of her compassion. It shaped the way she leads, listens and lifts others. It’s why UG To UK Healthcare isn’t about a process it’s about people. About dignity. About giving others, the kind of guidance and care she once longed for herself.

Like her namesake, Cleopatra of Egypt, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom is known for her intellect, strategic brilliance and captivating presence. The modern-day Cleopatra has traded palaces for purpose. Her throne is her mission. Her empire is built on ethics, empathy and excellence. Cleopatra doesn’t play small with her voice alluring, persuasive and unforgettable.

UG To UK Healthcare has become a lifeline for dozens of healthcare professionals who once felt overwhelmed or isolated. Through her guidance, they’ve moved from test prep to certification, from visa applications to confident relocation (that’s the intention) and from fear to freedom.

Cleopatra’s life today is a dance between two worlds. She travels frequently between the United Kingdom and Uganda guiding health care professionals through the rigors of lessons, exams marked by immense financial and emotional toll.

Her movement is not only geographical. It’s emotional. It’s transformational. From the first Occupational English Test (OET) prep session to post-arrival check-ins, she remains deeply connected to every stage of the journey.

The inaugural networking fundraiser dinner on June 18th wasn’t a formal affair in its entirety, it was a celebration of homecomings and cheers to more new beginnings. One of the many new ventures were the launch of the online gift shop where merchandise of t-shirts and mugs amongst others will be sold to raising funds for the social enterprise. Some of those were gifted through raffles and auctions on the night.

Guests mingled with sponsor, mentors, well-wishers and students virtually. Equity Bank Uganda proudly served as the main sponsor of the June 18th Networking Fundraiser Dinner reinforcing its commitment to empowering Uganda’s professional diaspora. Represented by the Senior Manager of International Banking and Cross-Border Payments and her team, the bank showcased its tailored financial solutions designed to support healthcare professionals transitioning to the United Kingdom. From savings and remittance products to relocation-focused financial literacy, Equity Bank’s support extends beyond funding offering stability, strategy and seamless banking for those self-sponsoring their migration.

It was the kind of hospitality that transcends industry, the kind that says, “You belong here.”

In the process of helping others heal and rise, Cleopatra found something she never expected — love.

Not just in her work though that has been a constant companion. But in another someone who believed in her mission as deeply as she did. The magnetism, the curiosity and aligned energy her and Isaac Mukisa Rondo met through the community she built both drawn by a shared vision of impact. And in the midst of hard conversations and hopeful strategies, connection blossomed.

It wasn’t a distraction; it was divine alignment. Someone who didn’t just love her but stood beside the work she lived for. Their partnership now forms part of her support system helping her lead without burning out and reminding her that it’s possible to build legacy and live fully.

“Behind every strong Cleopatra’s is the fire of a queen and the wisdom of a woman who knows when to speak until she wrote her name in history.”

Today, UG To UK Healthcare is the start of a social enterprise, an ecosystem of transformation. From OET tutors, legal partners, to sponsors and diaspora leaders, Cleopatra leads a global circle committed to ethical migration and meaningful integration.

She is a bridge between Uganda and the United Kingdom, between loss and legacy, between service and success.

The launch and expansion of Uganda Airlines in May 2025 to the United Kingdom align seamlessly with UG To UK Healthcare’s mission to support the ethical relocation of healthcare professionals from Uganda to the Gatwick Airport. As the national carrier extends its international routes, it presents a timely opportunity to become the preferred airline for transporting nurses, midwives, and doctors embarking on their professional journey abroad. Beyond logistics, this air travel launch would symbolise national pride allowing Ugandan talent to take flight on Uganda’s own airline further reinforcing the narrative of excellence, purpose and global impact. And as Cleopatra travels back and forth carrying stories, strength and strategy she reminds us that the most powerful journeys don’t just take us far.

They bring us home.

And yet, she insists: “What we’ve built is the foundation – now we rise.”

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