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OHCEA Frontrunners: Recounting 2017 Disease Outbreak Responses and Public Health Interventions

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One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) initiated in 2010, is an international network in eight countries in Eastern, Central and Western Africa, rooted in 24 Institutions in 16 Universities including Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). In 2017 a third Institution, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) joined the Network. The overall goal of OHCEA in Uganda is to develop a One Health higher education system that will produce a One Health graduate with transformative knowledge and ability to prevent and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks.

One Health is a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaborative undertaking to attain optimal health for our people, our animals (domestic and wild) and our environment. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats phase-two (EPT-2) program, through the One Health Workforce (OHW) project has supported OHCEA to implement activities that promote the One Health education approach in Makerere University. Partners at the University of Minnesota (Project Lead) and Tufts University regularly provide support to OHCEA.

Over the course of 2017, OHCEA undertook a series of multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary activities implemented by faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in partnership with government ministries and universities in the US. These included; the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industry (MAAIF), Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the National One Health Platform, the EPT-2 partners with Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) projects funded by USAID: PREDICT-2, FAO-ECTAD, Preparedness and Response and the USAID Mission, Uganda.

Some of the activities undertaken included creating a new curricu¬lum for the Executive MPH-MBA (Masters Public Health-Masters Business Administration) programme in partnership with the University of Minnesota and teaching principals of One Health to undergraduate and graduate students from CHS, CoVAB, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).

Other activities included One Health field attachment to the Mpondwe-Lhubiriha and Kasese-Hima communities in Western Uganda where teams sensitized the population on; practices of preventing bilharzia, proper hand washing techniques and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). Teams also participated in the redesign of the community slaughter slab in Hima to segregate solid and liquid waste as well as taught communities to recycle charcoal dust by making briquettes. HPV and Hepatitis B immunization campaigns were also carried out among select communities.

OHCEA further supported the placement of 10 Graduate students at institutions such as; FAO-ECTAD-2 project, Amref Health Africa, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), AFRISA, ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) and the Uganda National Health Laboratory Systems.

Students also participated in disease outbreak response and public health interventions in partnership with and under the mentorship of the sector Ministry or National and District Task Force which foster One Health approach. Interventions included epidemiology studies on the: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in February 2017; Anthrax High Alert in Arua, July 2017; Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Nakaseke and Kiboga Districts , September 2017 and Marburg Haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Kween and Kapchorwa Districts, November 2017.

OHCEA also seeks to build skills in risk communication and public health interventions through experiential learning and community engagements. In this regard, students solely initiated and undertook a Rabies Vaccination and Awareness Outreach project in the communities of Kanyanya, Kabowa and Kawaala using a One Health Approach in commemoration of World Rabies Day.

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Summary by Public Relations Office

 

Mark Wamai

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Press Statement on Ranking

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An older photo of the Main Building, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda as seen from across the Freedom Square. Date taken: 22nd October 2012.

Makerere University has noted with concern the article titled “Mak Drops Marks” published by the Daily Monitor Newspaper on 8th July 2025. The article raises issues that require clarification to ensure accurate information is shared with our stakeholders and the public. We wish to address the following key points: 

1. Misrepresentation of Ranking Data 

The article inaccurately combines the Sub-Saharan African University Rankings and the World University Rankings to portray a misleading performance trend for Makerere University. For clarity, Makerere University was ranked 8th in the 2024 Sub-Saharan African University Rankings. However, the 2025 Sub-Saharan African Rankings have not yet been released, making any comparison with the World University Rankings is misleading. This is a misrepresentation of facts aimed at tarnishing the University’s reputation and causing alarm among stakeholders.

2. Omission of Impact Rankings Achievements 

The article fails to acknowledge Makerere University’s outstanding performance in the 2025 Impact Rankings, which assess contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Makerere University significantly improved its global standing, moving from the 601–800 band in 2024 to the 301–400 band in 2025. Notably, the University ranked 17th globally in Decent Work and Economic Growth and within the 401–600 band for Quality Education. These achievements reflect Makerere’s commitment to societal impact and sustainable development, which the article conspicuously ignores. 

3. Balanced Perspective on World University Rankings 

While Makerere University acknowledges a decline in certain parameters in the World University Rankings, we view these as areas for improvement. At the same time, we celebrate our strengths, including high-quality research output and a robust international outlook, which continue to position Makerere as a leading institution globally. 

Makerere University remains committed to excellence in teaching, research, and societal impact. We urge our stakeholders and the public to rely on verified information from credible sources and to engage directly with the University for clarity on such matters. We acknowledge the Daily Monitor’s interest in Makerere University and implore them to report more accurately in the future. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
Email: pro@mak.ac.ug

Mak Editor

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Re-advert: Admission to Undergraduate Programmes 2025/2026

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The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Ugandan, East African, and international applicants for the undergraduate programmes under Self Sponsorship Scheme for the 2025/2026 Academic Year.

Each applicant should:

a) Have the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least five passes, or its equivalent and at least two principal passes at Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) obtained at the same sitting. For day programmes, only candidates who sat A’ Level in 2024, 2023 and 2020 are eligible to apply. For evening, afternoon, and external programmes, a candidate is not restricted on the year of sitting A’ Level.

OR

d) Degree from a recognised /Chartered Institution

Further details on the re-advertised programmes , fees structure, and the procedure of submitting applications can be accessed from the document below: 

The closing date for submitting applications is Tuesday 22nd July 2025.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

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Undergraduate Admissions List: Mop-up/Appeals 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Successful appeals and supplementary lists. Below is a list arising from appeals of Government Sponsored candidates who have been admitted:

Mak Editor

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