The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has inaugurated a new Lung Institute Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors will supervise the institute’s activities to ensure prosperity as it carries out research and provides clinical services with the aim of generating and implementing evidence-based methods to improve lung health.

The inaugural meeting took place on the 28th February 2019 at the Makerere University Lung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital.

The new board will be chaired by Prof. Charles Ibingira, the Principal of the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. Dr. Bruce J Kirenga, the founding Director was retained as the Director of the institute for another 4- year term.

Other members of the board are;

• Prof. Nelson Sewankambo –College of Health Sciences, Makerere University
• Prof Thys van der Molen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
• Prof. Josephine Kasolo –College of Health Sciences, Makerere University
• Dr. Henry Mwebasa –Director General, Ministry of Health
• Mr. Charles Barugahare –University Secretary, Makerere University
• Mr. Henry Mwebe –Director of Legal Affairs, Makerere University

Speaking at the inaugural meeting, Prof. Nawangwe, who also toured the institute premises, applauded the College of Health Sciences for establishing a specialist institute. He said, “The institute provides super specialized care in the region which people usually get from abroad thus it will save Ugandans expenses incurred in seeking specialist care abroad”. He implored the Lung Institute to set up a specialized lung hospital in the future. He appealed to the College of Health Sciences to support emerging of institutes within the College of Health Sciences and in other Colleges.

Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the idea of the Makerere University Lung Institute’s First International Lung Science Symposium that will be held alongside the Institute’s launch on the 29th and 30th April 2019.

The Vice Chancellor and the Principal, College of Health Sciences urged emerging institutes such as the Lung Institute to always share their successes with their mother institution Makerere University.