By Dr. Schola Matovu: Nurse Scientist, Professor & Global Health Scholar [Gerontology | Caregiving | Advancing Nursing Leadership & Global Learning And We Think Nursing Is Hard: What Nurse Agnes
My Story and Journey
My Formative Influences: Shaped by Jjajja’s Love
My personal and scholarly journey is deeply inspired by my Jjajja (grandmother), who raised me during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in rural Uganda. Amid poverty and limited access to health care, I witnessed her serve as an informal village nurse— delivering babies, providing herbal remedies, and caring for families with compassion and courage. Though she could neither read nor write, she modeled resilience, leadership, and service. These experiences fueled my passion for nursing and for scholarship that takes a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the needs of underserved grandmother-caregivers. Today, my work continues to honor her legacy by advancing equity-centered research, education, and service that bridges communities in Uganda, Utah, and the global context.
Advancing global aging, nursing and grandparent-caregiving through research, education, and leadership to ensure dignity and opportunity for all.
Core Values:
- Empowerment: Creating pathways for nurses and communities to lead with confidence and vision.
- Service: Strengthening health and well-being by honoring and uplifting communities whose needs are too often unmet.
- Advocacy: Harnessing research, teaching, and leadership to ensure all voices are recognized in health care
Professional Roles:
Principal Investigator – The Matovu Research Lab
By Dr. Schola Matovu | Nursing Professor | Nurse Scientist | Director of Global Learning and Engagement There is a question in nursing that we do not ask often enough—but should:
As a member of the Nursing Leadership Think Tank, I was honored to contribute to the centenary celebrations of the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Council in November 2022—a historic milestone
By Dr. Schola Matovu | Nursing Professor | Nurse Scientist | Director of Global Learning and Engagement What does it actually take to turn a story into policy? I used to
By Dr. Schola Matovu | Nursing Professor | Nurse Scientist | Director of Global Learning and Engagement Who Are We? There is something in nursing that we don’t talk about enough—but
Dr. Matovu with Her Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, Jessica Rose Epel Alupo; Her Excellency, the Minister of Health of Uganda, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng
