When Carol Alikiroyoo took on the role of supervising more than 180 Village Health Team (VHT) members in Kira Division, Wakiso District, her days revolved around paper forms, phone calls, and guesswork.

“It felt like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces,” she recalls. “Data would come in late, incomplete, or not at all.”

But in late 2023, everything changed. Wakiso was among the first districts to roll out Uganda’s electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), a bold step toward transforming how community health is delivered and monitored.

For Carol, the shift was dramatic.

“Before eCHIS, it was hard to track what was happening on the ground. Now, with just a few clicks, I can see exactly which VHTs are submitting on time, where support is needed, and how we’re performing overall,” she says.

Armed with real-time data, Carol’s supervision style has evolved. She’s moved from reacting to problems to preventing them. Monthly performance reviews are now structured and data-driven. Peer mentorship is stronger. Training is better targeted. And WhatsApp groups help her troubleshoot quickly and celebrate wins in real time.

“We’ve moved from guesswork to guided service delivery,” she says. “I’m not just a supervisor now, I’m a coach, a connector, a data champion.”

But that doesn’t mean the transition has been easy.

“eCHIS is like a demanding new baby,” Carol says with a laugh. “It brings a lot of joy but also more responsibility. It needs constant attention. But if we raise it right, the results are beautiful.”

That mindset is paying off. Her team’s data quality has improved. Morale is up. VHTs feel more supported, more seen.

Still, Carol is clear that digital tools alone aren’t enough.

“To really succeed, we need more community sensitization,” she says. “When people don’t understand why we’re asking questions or fear how their data will be used, they hold back. And that hurts the whole system.”

Her message to policymakers and health leaders is simple: Digital health is only as strong as the trust it’s built on.

Carol’s story is one of many unfolding across Uganda, as frontline health workers adapt to a new era. Her leadership reminds us that systems change isn’t just about technology, it’s about people.