By Sultani Kipingo
In a world where young people represent the fastest-growing segment of the global population, their role in influencing public health has become not only timely but absolutely essential. Few embody this urgent potential more clearly than Dr Julietha Gosbert Tibyesiga (pictured), a Tanzanian medical doctor, a passionate advocate for adolescent well-being, and an emerging voice in global public health diplomacy.
Yet, as she is quick to point out, qualifications alone are not enough to truly shift the needle. “Leadership isn’t about titles,” she says, with a calm conviction. “It’s about service, integrity, and impact. And I learnt that not in a lecture hall, but through the YOCAB Programme.”
The Youth Capacity Building (YOCAB) Programme, hosted under the Tanzania Health Summit, may have started as a leadership training initiative—but for Dr Tibyesiga, it became the pivotal bridge between ambition and meaningful, real-world action. She describes her entry into YOCAB as a profound turning point.
From the very first day, she realised it was unlike anything she had attended before. The sessions were not just theoretical frameworks or tick-box skills, but immersive experiences led by seasoned facilitators who were invested in nurturing young minds to take charge of the future.
“From the moment I stepped into YOCAB, I knew it wasn’t just another training. It was a leadership incubator,” she recalls.
The programme delivered hands-on learning in strategic thinking, ethics, public communication, personal branding, and career development—elements that Dr Tibyesiga credits with transforming her professional identity.
Currently, she serves as a member of the International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group at the University of Memphis School of Public Health and also works as a Programme Officer within the National School Health and Nutrition Programme at Tanzania’s Ministry of Health.
With more than five years of experience in health promotion—particularly in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health—she has been on the frontlines of addressing issues like teenage pregnancy, especially in underserved rural communities.
“YOCAB changed the way I approach problems,” she explains. “It taught me to think strategically, communicate clearly, and always act with purpose. It’s not just about knowing the problem anymore—it’s about leading others in finding the solution.”
The ripple effects of her YOCAB experience extended far beyond Tanzanian borders. In 2024, Dr Tibyesiga was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow, a prestigious leadership development programme initiated by former US President Barack Obama. She was placed on the Leadership in Public Management track at Boise State University in the United States—a testament to her growing influence in public health.
“The confidence, clarity, and competencies I gained from YOCAB made all the difference,” she reflects. “Not only did it strengthen my application, but it also helped me stand tall in a room full of global changemakers.”
She speaks with great admiration of the values that accompanied her from Tanzania to the United States. “Every presentation, every policy discussion I’m part of carries the fingerprints of what I learnt during YOCAB. It gave me language, it gave me clarity, and more than anything—it gave me courage.”
Dr Tibyesiga is also deeply aware that no journey is walked alone. She speaks with warmth and gratitude of the mentors who have stood beside her and lit the path forward. Among them is Dr Ntuli Kapologwe, Director General of the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community, whose vision for systems thinking shaped her understanding of health as a structural challenge rather than an isolated issue.
She also highlights Dr Charles Wanga, Head of Communication for PATH in Africa, whose strategic guidance helped her recognise the role of communication in changing hearts and minds.
But it is perhaps in speaking of Dr Mary Mwanyika, CEO of the Africa Academy for Public Health, that her voice lifts with something closer to reverence.
“She’s a phenomenal woman in healthcare, and a reminder that when women uplift one another, entire systems rise,” she says. “Her mentorship hasn’t just helped me grow—it’s shown me how to lead while opening space for others.”
As her journey continues to unfold, Dr Tibyesiga remains anchored in the lessons of YOCAB. “To any young person passionate about public health, YOCAB is not just a training—it’s a launchpad. It gives you more than a certificate; it gives you a mindset, a network, and the bravery to step into your purpose.”
There’s something quietly powerful about the way she speaks. Not loud, not boastful, but with the steady assurance of someone who knows her work is far from done.
“I’m proud to be a product of YOCAB,” she says. “And now, it’s my turn to hold the door open for those coming behind me.”
In a world that desperately needs ethical, youthful, and grounded leadership, Dr Julietha Tibyesiga is not just answering the call—she’s becoming the call for others to rise.
