The Study PI-Prof. Nelson Sewankambo (2nd R) and members of his team; Dr. Daniel Semakula (C) and Dr. David Kaawa-Mafigiri (2nd R) chat with Mak-RIF’s Ms. Harriet Adong (L) after the research dissemination on 3rd August 2021, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University.
Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, anecdotal reports in popular media suggested that there was low risk perception of the disease among communities and hesitancy to implement prevention and mitigation measures. The Government of Uganda mostly employed a top-down approach in implementing COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures, with limited meaningful community engagement as part of the response. Consequently, this left many people unconvinced about the existence of the pandemic and relevance of the mitigation measures. As such, there was negative perception of the mitigation measures and a reluctance to implement them.
These observations were revealed in a new study titled: ‘Owning our future through community engagement: enhancing uptake of COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures’ whose research findings were disseminated on 3rd August 2021 at Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences (MakCHS). The study was conducted between November 2020 and January 2021 by a team of researchers led by Prof. Nelson Sewankambo as Principal Investigator. Others were: Dr. David Kaawa-Mafigiri from Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Dr. Daniel Semakula from MakCHS. The study, conducted in Nakawa and Kawempe divisions of Kampala, aimed to assess the prevailing attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 mitigation measures; the likelihood of accepting a potential COVID-19 vaccine and the impact of the disease on livelihoods among vulnerable populations in Kampala. It was funded by the Government of the Republic of Uganda through the Makerere UniversityResearch and Innovations Fund (MakRIF).
During the dissemination, Prof. Sewankambo told participants that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, there has hardly been any community engagement to empower individuals, households and communities to take charge of their health and social wellbeing.
“We know that community engagement was a success feature in controlling the Ebola Virus Disease epidemics in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and West Africa. However, the impact of community engagement in the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown for policy and action,” Prof Sewankambo said.
Therefore, the study hypothesized that the success of any measures against the COVID-19 pandemic required community participation, ownership and sustainability of the efforts at grassroots levels.
Key Findings
Using survey questionnaires, household conversations, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, over 1,200 men, women and children aged above 12 in 858 households were examined. Survey results indicate that majority of the participants were aware of COVID-19 prevention measures with use of face masks being most renown (n=768 (90.57%)) followed by handwashing (n=743 (87.62%)). Others were: use of an alcohol-based sanitizer (n=537 (63.33%)), avoiding crowds (n= 491 (57.9%)), staying at home (n= 355 (41.86%)) and avoiding physical greetings (n=326 (38.44%)).
However, despite being aware of these prevention measures, Dr. Semakula reported that adherence substantially reduced by month eight of the pandemic. For example, majority (n= 675 (80%)) did not wear masks at all, or wore them inappropriately such as under their chins, or foreheads or partially covering the mouth by month eight of the pandemic. Similarly, only a small fraction (n=130 (15.6%)) of participants washed their hands (with or without soap) regularly when the opportunity presented, e.g., after greeting visitors, touching unhygienic objects, or visiting washrooms.
The Makerere Bioethics Conference (MakBC) 2026 Organizing Committee is pleased to invite researchers, academics, students, practitioners, policymakers, research ethics committee members, and other stakeholders to submit abstracts and register for MakBC 2026.
Conference Theme: Evolving Trends in Global Health Research Ethics
Conference Dates: 10th – 11th November 2026 Venue: Hotel Africana, Kampala, Uganda
Conference Sub-Themes
Research in Emergency and Disaster Situations
Genetic and Genomics Research, Biobanking, and Data Governance
Research in Vulnerable Populations and Health Equity
Emerging Technologies in Research and Artificial Intelligence
Research Regulation and Research Integrity
We welcome the submission of original abstracts that address the conference theme and sub-themes. The conference will provide an opportunity for participants to share research findings, best practices, innovations, and emerging ethical issues in global health research.
Applications are invited for an exciting Master’s Scholarship Opportunity offered through a collaboration between Makerere University and Case Western Reserve University (USA).
The Biomedical Engineering Unit, Department of Physiology at Makerere University, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University, received funding from the U.S. NIH Fogarty International Center to train Ugandans in Biomedical Engineering (BME). The program aims to strengthen capacity for medical technology innovation and develop the next generation of researchers in Biomedical Engineering.
Scholarship Highlights
The scholarship supports students pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or a closely related field. Eligible applicants include MSc students from:
Technology Innovation and Industrial Development (CEDAT)
Computer Science (COCIS)
Immunology and Clinical Microbiology
Master of Health Informatics
Master of Bioinformatics (CHS)
The scholarship provides:
Tuition support
A modest monthly stipend
Reasonable research funding
Support for up to one academic year (Master of Science)
Eligibility
Applicants should:
Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a health-related field from a recognized university.
Demonstrate interest in medical devices and technology innovation.
Have a research project idea focused on:
Cardiovascular diseases,
Blood disorders, or
Chronic movement disorders.
Show evidence of good academic performance in the first year of their MSc program.
Be available for an oral interview.
Application Requirements
Submit the following as a single PDF:
Certified copies of relevant academic documents
Two reference letters
A motivation statement (maximum 500 words)
A one-page research project idea
A brief CV (maximum four pages)
Applications should be emailed to sightproject2022@gmail.com with the subject line:
“Scholarship MSc Application 2026”
Important Dates
Application Deadline: 30 July 2026
Interviews: 13 August 2026
Notification of Successful Applicants: 21 August 2026
Qualified MSc students interested in advancing research and innovation in Biomedical Engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.
It is with great esteem that I welcome you to the 52nd edition of the Makerere Medical Journal (MMJ). This edition of the Makerere Medical Journal (MMJ) comes at a pivotal moment in our country’s history, a time marked by change and a growing determination for voices to be seen and heard. Various platforms have given people the opportunity to do just that and the MMJ is one of these platforms because, here, we believe there is no greater joy than visibility and expression.
Writing is one of the purest forms of self-expression, and research represents its highest academic form: writing grounded in facts and figures. Research is the very backbone that shapes the future of humanity. The hallmark of any society progressing In an evolutionary direction is RESEARCH. It, therefore, felt essential to include the work of so many bold, young writers and researchers whose work will shape the landscape of science for generations to come.
We invite you to embark on this journey of inquiry and to open your mind to the powerful ideas captured within these pages. “Research is always the best the part of writing.” What we especially love about this is the fact that our writers take their time to do their research before making submissions which made our work particularly easy. We were impressed with the quality of the submissions in spite of the rigorous academic schedules. We hope their brilliant writing speaks volume to you like it did to us. This edition features articles that explore emerging innovations and evolving ideas in medicine, including cancer research, gene editing, and other compelling areas of study we hope you will find equally thought-provoking. Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), continues to be a hub of research prowess and excellence. The number of undergraduate students producing high-quality research continues to grow, and we are immensely proud to showcase their work in our journal.
Additionally, we believe it is of the utmost importance to get inspiration and guidance from those who came before us. On that note, we have included an interview from Dr. Sabrina Kitaka and Prof. David Meya, who both continue to shape and nurture the next generation of clinicians. We have also included two study abroad pieces that highlight the journey of two of our medical students through Sweden and Italy. We believe their experiences will inspire and motivate those coming after them. MakCHS is home to vibrant clubs whose activities have shaped the landscape of the student experience, which we are proud to have featured.
This edition is especially meaningful as it represents the continuation and completion of the outstanding work of the 2024–2025 editorial team. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them under the leadership of Mr. Karlos Samuel, as well as, to our patron, Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, for her unwavering guidance and support. And finally, our deepest thanks go to you, our dearest readers, without whom this journal would not exist. We hope you find the inspiration you seek within these pages.
APILI LORRAINE, MBChB V Email: roritech[at]gmail.com
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