Samson Olum has over 15 years' experience in human resource management in the public service working in various ministries, including three at the ministry of health. He joined the public service in 2004 as a human resource officer in the police department and rose through various ranks under the public service commission.

In 2015, he was promoted to assistant commissioner of human resource management and was posted to the ministry of health, where he serves as the acting head of that department. Olum coordinates and supervises human resource functions at the ministry, which includes ensuring the functionality of human resource systems, human resource planning, recruitment, and deployment and training of health workers at both the central and decentralized levels.

In these roles, he works with a team of 34 staff plus six technical assistants who offer support in various areas of human resource management. These include human resource planning, management, and development as well as performance management. 

Olum holds a master's degree in public administration from Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea, a postgraduate diploma in human resource management from the Uganda Management Institute, and a bachelor of arts degree in development studies from Makerere University Uganda.

Olum will present as part of IntraHealth's official side event at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).