General
IDI Hands Over PoE Equipment Worth UGX510M for Infection Control
With support from Resolve To Save Lives, the Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Dr. Andrew Kambugu today, Friday 13th March, 2020 handed over equipment worth UGX310Million to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats at Points of Entry (PoE). Resolve To Save lives is an American organisation dedicated to ending epidemics. The handover preceded a press conference at the Ministry Headquarters in Nakasero where the Health Minister Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng was present.
During the press conference, Dr. Andrew Kambugu, accompanied by his team that included the Head, Global Health Security Programme, Dr. Mohammed Larmode, thanked the Minister for the tireless efforts that led to the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Outbreak of June 2019.
“This achievement was made possible under the guidance and leadership of the Ministry of Health officials, working hard to ensure importation of cases does not result in onward local transmission.”
“Even while the COVID-19 pandemic has generated concern as it spreads rapidly, including to some countries in Africa, we are pledging our efforts to work in line with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) so as to strengthen capacity at Points of Entry (PoE) to respond to public health threats through trainings,” he said.
The Executive Director said the equipment will be used to assist in risk mapping at border crossings using the Population Movement and Connectivity across Borders among other interventions. The PoEs to receive the equipment are Entebbe International Airport as well as Busia and Mpondwe border points in Busia and Kasese Districts respectively.
Dr. Aceng applauded the partnership with IDI saying that the Government acknowledges both local and international partners that continue to provide support in capacity building for preparedness and response to public health threats of international concern.
Earlier in the week, in support of One Health and knowledge of the threat posed by diseases that transfer from animals to humans, IDI through the same funding partner handed over similar equipment worth UGX200Million to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). Dr. Doris Kiconco, Assistant commissioner of Animal Health at MAAIF was at the IDI Headquarters, Makerere University to receive the equipment on Wednesday 11th March 2020.
Article by IDI Communications Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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