When the history of public health training in Uganda is told — honestly, fully, and with the respect it deserves, the name Francis Seletze Ngabirano must stand at the center of that story. For 32 years, he was one of the most consistent figures at Makerere’s Department of Preventive Medicine, now the Institute (and later, School) of Public Health. Through leadership transitions, political upheavals, and moments when the institution teetered on collapse, he carried with him a quiet, steady force, one that helped keep the wheels turning and the vision alive.

Thirteen years after Makerere University was established, a boy was born in the rolling hills of Kigezi on 18 November 1935. His parents named him Francis Seletze Ngabirano. At that time, no one could have imagined that this young boy would one day dedicate his life to Uganda’s premier and oldest university. Guided by his parents’ commitment to discipline and service, Francis began school in 1945 at the age of ten. He completed his primary education in 1950 before proceeding to secondary school from 1951 to 1956.

By the late 1950s, long before the Makerere University Institute of Public Health was conceived, he was already doing the work that would define his life, administration in health settings. From Kilembe Mines Hospital, where he managed medical records and supervised clerical staff from 1957 to 1960, to the Ross Institute of Tropical Hygiene (East Africa Branch) from 1961 to 1963, where he served as Technical Assistant to the Principal Officer and helped set up regional health research operations across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia, his career was expanding beyond borders. Even as a young man, he had already become someone institutions could trust.

During this same period, he also served as Assistant Chief Health Educator with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), then a fast-growing regional health organization headquartered in Nairobi. His work took him directly into communities, organizing health education courses in schools and villages, gathering and analysing sickness data from local industries, and supervising the support staff who kept these outreach operations running. It was practical, people-focused work that demanded both empathy and discipline, qualities he carried throughout his career.

He strengthened his skills through further training in health education and public health administration at Kenyatta National Hospital, at the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School in Israel, and later at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. These experiences gave him both global exposure and a strong command of public health systems, qualifications few Ugandans had at the time.

So, when he joined Makerere on 1 November 1968 as an Epidemiology Office Assistant, a role created specifically to accommodate his expertise, he arrived not as a beginner, but as a professional already shaped by years of responsibility.

As recorded in handwritten notes by Professor Suleiman Jabir Farsey on May 13, 1974:

“Mr. Ngabirano joined the Department in November 1968, and was appointed ‘Epidemiology Office Assistant.’ The records available in the Department indicate that Mr. Ngabirano was recruited for administrative duties, but because there was no provision in the establishment for such a post at the time, the post of Public Health Nursing Instructor was altered to one of Epidemiology Office Assistant,” wrote Professor Farsey, then Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine (1968–1975).

Becoming the Institutional Backbone

The early Institute of Public Health (IPH) was a small but ambitious unit within the Faculty of Medicine. It was led by Prof. Jabir Farsey as a Department of Preventive Medicine and supported by pioneering Ugandans such as Dr. Josephine Namboze, Dr. V. L. Ongom, Mr. S. K. Lwanga, Dr. M. L. Kakande, and Dr. B. Baitera. Behind this frontline of academics was a steady force, administrators like Mr. Ngabirano, making sure that teaching, research, and community outreach worked without disruption.

It is worth noting that Mr. Ngabirano witnessed the birth and transformation of the Department of Preventive Medicine into the first Institute of Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa on 1 July 1975. The Institute was still under the Faculty of Medicine, then headed by Professor Joseph Lutwama, with Professor Jabir Farsey as its first head. Ngabirano also saw the construction of the four-story building that now houses MakSPH, completed in January 1971, along with the installation of furniture and essential facilities.

From his personal account, the idea of establishing an Institute had been conceived as early as 1967. However, the rise of Idi Amin delayed these plans and triggered the departure of remaining expatriates, including Dr. George Saxton, an American who had directed Kasangati Health Centre and taught in an honorary capacity in the Department of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Saxton, after a brief visit to Europe, returned with an aid package secured from the governments of Denmark and Norway, the funding that ultimately made the current MakSPH building possible. Saxton understood that creating an Institute required space, as staff and students had been cramped in the Clinical Research Building.

All these years, Ngabirano managed everything: financial records, planning epidemiological field tours, supervising personnel, coordinating WHO projects, handling stores and vehicles, and doing so with a thoroughness colleagues would later describe as his trademark.

Over the years, five heads of the Institute came and went: Prof. Jabir Farsey (1968-1975), Prof. Capt. Dr. Virginio Lachora Ongom (1975-1979), Prof. Josephine Namboze (1979-1988), Prof. John Tuhe Kakitahi (1988-1991), and Prof. Gilbert Bukenya (1991-1994), later replaced by Prof. Frederick Wabwire-Mangen (1995-2003). Directors changed, structures shifted, crises erupted… but Ngabirano remained.

His desk was where continuity lived.

A Witness and Chronicler of Turbulent Decades

Many people who lived through Uganda’s chaotic 1970s chose silence. But Mr. Ngabirano documented. His unpublished 1995 manuscript, The Institute of Public Health Through Idi Amin’s Rule, is one of the most significant historical accounts of Makerere’s public health training during a time when institutional memory was at risk of disappearing.

His writing describes:

The early Amin years saw a mass departure of academic staff. Prof. Farsey resigned in 1975, and Prof. Ongom died suddenly in 1979. Tragic losses of colleagues, Dr. Baitera, Dr. Kakande, and Mr. Asaba, further strained morale. Low salaries and dwindling staff eventually led to the discontinuation of the Diploma in Public Health in 1988.

These were not just institutional events; they shaped people’s lives. They tested loyalty, purpose, and endurance. Through all this, the Institute survived because of administrators who refused to let the vision fade. Few stood more firmly in that resolve than Mr. Ngabirano.

The Administrator Who Kept People First

His influence is most vividly remembered in the 1990s with the introduction of the two-year Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree Full-time Programme based on the concept of a Public Health Schools Without Walls (PHSWOW).

With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, this innovative model took training into district health systems; Rakai, Hoima, Fort Portal, Arua, Karamoja, Mukono, immersing students in real public health challenges. Administration for such a programme required: diplomacy, logistical mastery, pastoral care, financial stewardship, and calm leadership across diverse teams. Mr. Ngabirano excelled in every one.

Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen, then Director of IPH, remembers him as:

“A focused and organised administrator… the typical administrator of the olden days. He documented every detail clearly and ensured medical student fieldwork ran smoothly.”

Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, who joined when Ngabirano was already a pillar of the Institute, offers this reflection:

“He served the School diligently. The administrator was the engine of the Institute. Directors often travelled, but he ensured day-to-day affairs continued uninterrupted. He sustained this place when salaries were meagre and conditions extremely difficult.”

To young staff, he was not just a supervisor; he was guidance, stability, and care.

In 1993, a new graduate student, Professor Christopher Garimoi Orach, joined Makerere, encouraged by Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to pursue the Master of Medicine in Public Health (MMED PH). That programme would later evolve into the modern two-year MPH. One of the first people he encountered was Mr. Ngabirano.

Prof. Orach remembers him vividly and eulogises him:

“Francis Ngabirano worked with great dedication, commitment, and distinction at the Institute of Public Health. He was passionate about his work as an Administrator, humorous, smart, and ever-present. He interacted easily with faculty and students, always supportive. Rest thee well, Francis. You rendered your service admirably, with great love, passion, and honor. Rest now with the Creator, the giver and taker, in tranquility, in a place well prepared for you eternally.”

These words reflect the admiration of countless others whose paths he helped establish. To others, Ngabirano was a fatherly guide to future leaders. When Dr. Lynn Atuyambe arrived at the Institute in 1994, he was not yet the senior academic we know today but just a young researcher seeking footing.

He found in Ngabirano a mentor who understood people, not only processes.

“He participated in student welfare, was very kind and approachable. He allocated field vehicles, ensured our welfare, organised workshops, and kept strong links with our training centres. He had an art of storytelling with clarity and great detail, I will miss that.”

Dr. Atuyambe particularly remembers a life-changing personal moment:

“The first laptop in my life, he delivered it to me in the field and showed me how to use it. It was 1996. He was friendly and fatherly. May his soul rest in peace.”

These are not merely memories; they are bridges between generations. They tell the truth: the foundations of public health capacity building in Uganda were built not only by professors publishing papers but also by administrators who made classrooms, vehicles, housing, and field learning possible.

During the “MPH at 25” celebration on Oct. 16, 2019, he received a certificate from Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe recognizing his role in shaping 25 years of MPH training at Makerere University, an honour that followed his earlier Long Service Award from the University Council in 1995.

In 2024, Makerere University School of Public Health marked 70 years of existence. For almost half that history, 32 years, the institution was shaped, steadied, and propelled forward by Mr. Francis Ngabirano’s resolve.

Ngabirano’s legacy is woven into the School’s Story. He lived the mission before it became slogans; taking health training to communities, nurturing the next generation of public health leaders, staying when others left, building systems where none existed, documenting history so no one would forget. He is the man who didn’t seek applause. But his contribution is visible in every graduate who navigated the Schools without walls programme, in every field team he deployed safely, in every archived record that tells us where we started and how far we have come.

His retirement in the late 1990s closed an amazing chapter, yet he left behind structures still functioning, and people still carrying his values forward.

In institutions, some people shine in celebration. Others shine in crisis. Mr. Ngabirano shone in both and in his demise, the School of Public Health revere him as a gentleman who kept the School alive when it was hardest to stay.

He stood for diligence when resources were scarce, for continuity when the institution trembled, for service not as a role, but as a calling. We remember him not simply for what he did, but for who we became because he was here. He was the history-keeper, the stabiliser and the quiet guardian of a mission that outlived the hardest years.

And today, as we honor him, we also honor the courage it took to stay when leaving was easier.

To his family, his wife, Jane Ngabirano, and the children, Nina, Victoria, Justus, and Kenneth, thank you for sharing him with us. To his colleagues, thank you for walking the journey with him. To the generations he supported, your success is part of his legacy.

Mr. Francis Seletze Ngabirano’s life reminds us that greatness is not always loud. Sometimes, it is found in punctual footsteps, a carefully kept file, a well-organised field trip, a story told at just the right moment, and the choice, every morning, to keep serving.

May he rest in peace, knowing that his work mattered.
And may the institution he helped carry forward always carry his name in its story.

As Makerere University prepares to host the 2025 Emmanuel Tumusime Mutebile Annual Public Lecture, the selection of the keynote speaker stands as a deliberate and symbolic choice, one that reflects the very essence of this year’s theme: Shaping Africa’s Future: Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience & the Power of Innovation.

The 2025 lecture will be delivered by Eng. Dr. Francis Frederick “Tusu” Tusubira, a visionary engineer, development thinker, and global servant-leader whose life’s work mirrors the values that Prof. Mutebile championed, disciplined leadership, ethical stewardship, and an unwavering commitment to building people-centred institutions.

Who is Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusu Tusubira?

Eng. Dr. Tusubira is a retired academic and accomplished professional with a distinguished career spanning engineering, leadership development, governance, and strategic transformation. He currently serves as the Managing Partner of Knowledge Consulting Ltd, where he supports organisations across Africa and beyond in strengthening leadership systems, enhancing institutional effectiveness, and navigating complex change environments.

His professional standing cuts across continents. He is a Registered Engineer in Uganda, a Chartered Engineer in the United Kingdom, and the current Patron of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, a role through which he continues to mentor and shape the next generation of engineering professionals and national development leaders.

Beyond his technical expertise, Eng. Dr. Tusubira is widely recognised for his deep commitment to service, particularly through the global Rotary movement. A devoted Rotarian, he has served in multiple leadership capacities at national, regional, and international levels and is now a Rotary Foundation Trustee Elect (2026–2030), a position that underscores his global influence in advancing community development, ethical leadership, and youth empowerment.

Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusu Tusubira: A Speaker for This Moment

The choice of Eng. Dr. Tusubira, as the keynote speaker, is both strategic and symbolic. At a time when Africa faces critical leadership transitions, institutional fragility, and the urgent need for sustainable innovation, his life’s work offers real-world depth to the conversation. His career embodies a seamless fusion of intellect, service, and practice, positioning him uniquely to interrogate the future that Africa must shape.

Where Prof. Mutebile stabilised financial systems and safeguarded macroeconomic credibility, Eng. Dr. Tusubira has consistently focused on strengthening the human and institutional architecture that sustains those systems. His work in leadership development, strategic foresight, and organisational transformation speaks directly to the urgent call for systems that are resilient, adaptive, and ethically grounded.

For Uganda, Eng. Dr. Tusubira represents a generation of leaders who have transitioned from academia into national and regional influence while remaining deeply rooted in service and mentorship. His contribution to engineering education, governance reform, and institutional strengthening reflects a lifelong dedication to shaping a Uganda that is forward-looking, capable, and value-driven.

A Voice Aligned with the Theme

Eng. Dr. Tusubira’s keynote address will speak directly to the heart of the 2025 theme, exploring how Africa can intentionally cultivate leadership succession, fortify its economic systems, and harness innovation not as a buzzword, but as a strategic tool for inclusive development.

Through his lens, the lecture will challenge participants to rethink leadership as a collective responsibility, resilience as an institutional discipline, and innovation as a mindset rooted in purpose, ethics, and strategic foresight.

In choosing Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusu Tusubira, as the keynote speaker, Makerere University affirms its commitment to elevating voices that embody substance, service, and transformative leadership. His presence is not merely ceremonial; it is a reinforcement of the values that define this lecture series: excellence, integrity, and purposeful impact.

As the 2025 Emmanuel Tumusime Mutebile Annual Public Lecture approaches, his keynote address promises to be a defining moment, one that not only honours a legacy but ignites a renewed commitment to shaping Africa’s future with courage, clarity, and conviction.

The Tumusiime Mutebile Annual Public Lecture will also be hosted on live stream on the Makerere University YouTube page. Link: https://youtube.com/live/e6Ld-0XYLiw?feature=share

Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has called for stronger support systems for Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors and improved evidence gathering to hold perpetrators accountable.  

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Winnie Kabumbuli, the Dean of Students, during the launch of the 16 Days Of Activism against Gender-based Violence today (Monday 24^th November 2025), Prof Nawangwe noted that GBV affects everyone and must be confronted collectively.

“Makerere University remains dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive environment and promoting gender equality. Each of us has a role in building a society free from violence.” Prof Nawangwe, noted.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual International campaign that runs from November 25 to December 10, calling for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.  The year’s theme is “Men as Changemakers: Unite to End Digital Violence against all women and Girls”.

During the official launch, Makerere University in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Uganda and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) staff members and students, marched together around the University as “Strides for Change”.

From the Main Gate to the Rugby Grounds, participants walked a path that reflected Uganda’s broader journey toward honesty, accountability and transformation. The Strides for Change walk symbolized more than unity; it represented a collective journey from awareness to action.

In his remarks, Mr. Leonard Zulu, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, noted that as Uganda marks 30 years since commitments made at the Beijing Conference, the country must reflect on both progress made and the work that remains.

“The Government of Uganda has made important strides, yet too many women and girls still face barriers to safety, dignity, and opportunity. Changing this reality requires not only strong policies but strong voices voices like yours,” Mr Zulu, said.

During the launch, 16 influential Ugandan men were unveiled as changemakers—a new generation committed to ending all forms of violence, including digital violence, against women and girls. These men come from diverse sectors, including the arts, academia, culture, media, health and youth activism.

Among the male changemakers are Makerere University Staff; Dr. Jimmy Spire Ssentongo and Dr. Amon Ashaba Mwiine, Joseph Beyanga, Douglas Lwanga, Simon Kasyate, Dr. Paul Kasenene, Matthew Nabwiso, Kenneth Kimuli (Pablo), Mark Agaba (Uncle Mark), Daniel Kigozi (Navio), Don Zane Muwanguzi, Lim Ronie.

“To the 16 men lending their influence to this movement—thank you. Your leadership shows young men everywhere that strength is not about dominance, but about dignity. Not about silence, but solidarity,” Mr. Zulu, noted.

In her speech, Ms. Kristine Biokhus, the UNFPA Country representative, highlighted the growing threat of technology-facilitated violence, including cyber-harassment, non-consensual image sharing, and online threats now among the most pervasive forms of GBV.

“Laws alone cannot stop this. Violence has evolved and so must we. This is why we spotlight men as changemakers, because systems shift when influence meets responsibility,” Ms. Biokhus, noted.

In a bid to reduce GBV, Ms. Biokhus, reminded the 16 male champions that their daily actions hold the power to shape a masculinity that uplifts, protects and empowers.

“Zero Violence is Possible. Digital Safety is a Human Right. And Uganda’s future is brighter when we walk forward together side by side in dignity and justice,” Ms. Biokhus, said.

The Ambassador of Sweden to Uganda, Ms. Maria Håkansson, reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to advancing gender equality and ending GBV. She emphasized that gender equality cannot be achieved through policy alone it requires a shift in attitudes, norms, and behaviours.

 “GBV includes the fast-growing threat of technology-facilitated violence, and it requires more than policies, but a shift in norms, attitudes and behavior. Central to this shift is the full engagement of men, because gender equality is not a women’s issue, but a societal one.

She reminded participants that activism must continue beyond the 16 days—it is a daily commitment to dignity, equality, and a Uganda where all women and girls live free from fear.

The launch concluded with an energetic performance from comedians and musicians Kenneth Kimuli (Pablo) and Daniel Kigozi (Navio). Beyond entertainment, they delivered powerful messages to young people.

“It’s time we broke harmful norms, especially those affecting our sisters and mothers. Let’s put an end to GBV in our homes and communities.” Navio, said. The event was attended by Ambassadors from the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Iceland, and Germany, alongside representatives from UNDP, UN Women, and other development partners demonstrating widespread international support for the movement.