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Publications Arising Directly from THRiVE-2 Funding in 2021

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  1. Milugo TK, Tchouassi DP, Kavishe RA, Dinglasan RR, Torto B. Root exudate chemical cues of an invasive plant modulate oviposition behavior and survivorship of a malaria mosquito vector. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 20;11(1):14785. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94043-5.PMID: 34285252
  2. Kaaya, R.D., Kajeguka, D.C., Matowo, J.J, Ndaro A.J., Mosha FW, Chilongola J. O. and Kavishe R. A. Predictive markers of transmission in areas with different malaria endemicity in north-eastern Tanzania based on seroprevalence of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum. BMC Res Notes 14, 404 (2021).
    doi: 10.1186/s13104-021-05818-y
  3. Mosha MV, Msuya SE, Kasagama E, Ayieko P, Todd J, Filteau S.PLoS One. Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. 2021 Apr 22;16(4):e0249595. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249595. eCollection 2021.PMID: 33886578
  4. Mosha MV, Kasagama E, Ayieko P, Todd J, Msuya SE, Grosskurth H, Filteau S. Description and comparison of physical activity from self-reports and accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study. AAS Open Res. 2021 May 17;3:40. doi: 10.12688/aasopenres.13118.4.eCollection 2020.PMID: 34056542
  5. Mcharo RD, Mayaud P, Msuya SE. Where and how do young people like to get their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information? Experiences from students in higher learning institutions in Mbeya, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2021 Sep 16;21(1):1683. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-11728-2.PMID: 34530796
  6. Okello E, Ndagire E, Muhamed B, Sarnacki R, Murali M, Pulle J, Atala J, Bowen AC, DiFazio MP, Nakitto MG, Harik NS, Kansiime R, Longenecker CT, Lwabi P, Agaba C, Norton SA, Omara IO, Oyella LM, Parks T, Rwebembera J, Spurney CF, Stein E, Tochen L, Watkins D, Zimmerman M, Carapetis JR, Sable CA, Beaton A. Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in northern and western Uganda: a prospective, population-based study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Oct;9(10):e1423-e1430. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X (21)00288-6. Epub 2021 Aug 19. PMID: 34419237
  7. Beaton A, Okello E, Rwebembera J, Grobler A, Engelman D, Alepere J, Canales L, Carapetis J, DeWyer A, Lwabi P, Mirabel M, Mocumbi AO, Murali M, Nakitto M, Ndagire E, Nunes M, Omara IO, Sarnacki R, Scheel A, Wilson N, Zimmerman M, Zühlke L, Karthikeyan G, Sable CA, Steer AC. Secondary Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease. Accepted, NEJM, 8/24/21.
  8. Arthur Kwizera, David P Kateete, Ronald Ssenyonga, Lydia Nakiyingi, Jane Nakibuuka, Christine Namata, Arthur Mwanje, Emmy Okello, Daphne Kabatoro, Noah Kiwanuka, Robert C Bollinger, James Tumwine, Charlotte Summers. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in an African Intensive Care Unit Setting: A Prospective Study of Prevalence and Outcomes. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021 Oct 19. doi: 10.1513/ AnnalsATS.202103-270RL.
  9. Christine Oryema, Karlmax Rutaro, Sam William Oyet and Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga. Ethnobotanical plants used in the management of symptoms of tuberculosis in rural Uganda Tropical Medicine and Health (2021) 49:92 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00384-2
  10. Mulugeta Belay, Begna Tulu, Sidra Younis, David A Jolliffe, Dawit Tayachew, Hana Manwandu, Tenagnework Abozen, Emawayish A Tirfie, Metasebia Tegegn, Aboma Zewude, Sally Forrest, Jonathan Mayito, Jim F Huggett, Gerwyn M Jones, Denise M O’Sullivan, Henny M Martineau, Mahdad Noursadeghi, Aneesh Chandran, Kathryn A Harris, Vlad Nikolayevskyy, Julie Demaret, Stefan Berg, Martin Vordermeier, Taye T Balcha, Abraham Aseffa, Gobena Ameni, Markos Abebe, Stephen T Reece, Adrian R Martineau. Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in CD34-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asymptomatic tuberculosis contacts: an observational study. The Lancet Microbe, 2021 Jun. 2(6): p. E267-E275.
  1. Mosha MV, Kasagama E, Ayieko P, Todd J, Msuya SE, Grosskurth H Fulteau S.. Description and comparison of physical activity from self-reports and accelerometry among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: a pilot study [version 4; peer review: 2 approved]. AAS Open Res 2021, 3:40 (https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13118.4)
  2. Philemon RN , Mmbaga BT , Bartlett J, Renju J, Mtuy T, Mboya IB , Msuya SE. Do Women Enrolled in PMTCT Understand the Recommendations: A Case Study from Kilimanjaro 16 June 2021 Volume 2021:15 Pages 1301—1309 DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S307847
  3. Okello E, Ndagire E, Muhamed B, Sarnacki R, Murali M, Pulle J, Atala J, Bowen AC, DiFazio MP, Nakitto MG, Harik NS, Kansiime R, Longenecker CT, Lwabi P, Agaba C, Norton SA, Omara IO, Oyella LM, Parks T, Rwebembera J, Spurney CF, Stein E, Tochen L, Watkins D, Zimmerman M, Carapetis JR, Sable CA, Beaton A. Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in northern and western Uganda: a prospective, population-based study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Oct;9(10):e1423-e1430. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00288-6. Epub 2021 Aug 19. PMID: 34419237
  4. Joel L. Bargul, Kevin O. Kidambasi, Merid N. Getahun, Jandouwe Villinger, Robert S. Copeland, Jackson M. Muema, Mark Carrington, Daniel K. Masiga. Transmission of ‘Candidatus Anaplasma camelii’ to mice and rabbits by camelspecific keds, Hippobosca camelina. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 15(8): e0009671. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009671
  5. Hudson Onen, Robinson Odong, Moses Chemurot, Frédéric Tripet and Jonathan K. Kayondo Predatory and competitive interaction in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato larval breeding habitats in selected villages of central Uganda. Parasites Vectors (2021) 14:420 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04926-9
  6. Dinah Amongin, Frank Kaharuza, Claudia Hanson, Annettee Nakimuli, Susan Mutesi, Lenka Benova and Lynn Atuyambe. “… I would have left that man long time ago but, …” exploring circumstances of and motivators for repeat adolescent birth in Eastern Uganda. Archives of Public Health (2021) 79:142
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00662-9
  7. TK. Milugo, D P. Tchouassi, RA. Kavishe, RR. Dinglasan & B. Torto. Root exudate chemical cues of an invasive plant modulate oviposition behavior and survivorship of a malaria mosquito vector Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports | (2021) 11:14785 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94043-5
  8. Getange, D.; Bargul, J.L.; Kanduma, E.; Collins, M.; Bodha, B.; Denge, D.; Chiuya, T.; Githaka, N.; Younan, M.; Fèvre, E.M.; et al. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Northern Kenya. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1414. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071414
  1. Dacal E, Bermejo-Peláez D, Lin L, Álamo E, Cuadrado D, Martínez Á, Mousa A, Postigo M, Soto A, Sukosd E, Vladimirov A, Mwandawiro C, Gichuki P, Williams NA, Muñoz J, Kepha S, Luengo-Oroz M. Mobile microscopy and telemedicine platform assisted by deep learning for the quantification of Trichuris trichiura infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Sep 7;15(9):e0009677. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009677. PMID: 34492039; PMCID: PMC8448303
  2. JM Muema, JL Bargul, JM Mutunga, MA. Obonyo, GO. Asudi, SN Njeru. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, Neurotoxic Zanthoxylum chalybeum root constituents invoke mosquito larval growth retardation through ecdysteroidogenic CYP450s transcriptional perturbations https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104912
  3. Nakanjako D, Kendall D, Sewankambo NK, Razak M H, Oduor B, Odero T, Garcia P, Farquhar C. Building and Sustaining Effective Partnerships for Training the Next Generation of Global Health Leaders. Annals of Global Health. 2021; 87(1): 66, 1–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.3214
  4. Mosha MV, Msuya SE, Kasagama E, Ayieko P, Todd J, Filteau S (2021) Prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among primary school children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. PLoS ONE 16(4): e0249595. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249595
  5. Tushabe P, Howard W, Bwogi J, Birungi M, Eliku JP, Kakooza P, Bukenya H, Namuwulya P, Gaizi J, Tibanagwa M, Kabaliisa T, Mulindwa J, Muhanguzi D, Suchard M, Gumede N, Bakamutumaho B.J. Molecular characterization of non-polio enteroviruses isolated from acute flaccid paralysis patients in Uganda. Med Virol. 2021 Jan 17. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26804. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33458840
  6. Martin Mbonye, Godfrey Siu & Janet Seeley (2021) Conflicted masculinities: understanding dilemmas and (re)configurations of masculinity among men in long-term relationships with female sex workers, in Kampala, Uganda, Culture, Health & Sexuality. DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2021.1891569
  7. Atuhairwe S, Gemzell-Danielsson K, Byamugisha J, Kaharuza F, Tumwesigye NM, Hanson C. Abortion-related nearmiss morbidity and mortality in 43 health facilities with differences in readiness to provide abortion care in Uganda. BMJ Glob Health. 2021 Feb;6(2):e003274. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003274.PMID: 33547174
  8. Bagasha P, Namukwaya E, Leng M, Kalyesubula R, Mutebi E, Naitala R, Katabira E and Petrova M. Comparison of the healthrelated quality of life of end stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis management in Uganda. Bagasha et al. BMC Palliative Care (2021) 20:52 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00743-0
  1. Kwizera R, Katende A, Bongomin F, Nakiyingi L and Bruce J. Kirenga. J Misdiagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis as pulmonary tuberculosis at a tertiary care center in Uganda: a case series. Med Case Reports (2021) 15:140 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-021-02721-9
  2. Nattoh G, Bargul JL, Magoma G, Mbaisi, L, Butungi H, Mararo E, E Teal, JK Herren (2021) The fungus Leptosphaerulina persists in Anopheles gambiae and induces melanization. PLoS ONE 16(2): e0246452. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246452
  3. D. Abera, CK Kibet, T Degefa, L Amenga‑Etego, JL Bargul, and L Golassa. Genomic analysis reveals independent evolution of Plasmodium falciparum populations in Ethiopia Malar J (2021) 20:129 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03660-y
  4. Richard Kwizera, Emmanuel Mande, Denis Omali, Samuel Okurut, Sheila Nabweyambo, Rose Nabatanzi, Damalie Nakanjako and David B. Meya. Translational research in Uganda: linking basic science to bedside medicine in a resource limited setting. J Transl Med (2021) 19:76 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02747-z
  5. Amongin D, Kågesten A, Tunçalp Ö, Nakafeero M, Atuyambe L, Hanson C, Benova L. Later life outcomes of women by adolescent birth history: analysis of the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. BMJ Open 2021;11:e041545. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2020-041545
  6. Atuhairwe S, Gemzell-Danielsson K, Byamugisha J, et al. Abortion- related near-miss morbidity and mortality in 43 health facilities with differences in readiness to provide abortion care in Uganda. BMJ Global Health 2021;6:e003274. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2020-003274
  7. Milugo TK, Tchouassi DP, Kavishe RA, Dinglasan RR, Torto B. Derivatization increases mosquito larvicidal activity of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenin isolated from the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus. Pest Manag Sci. 2021 Feb;77(2):659-665. doi: 10.1002/ps.6131. Epub 2020 Oct 26.PMID: 33034953

Read more in the THRiVE Newsletter Oct-Dec 2021

Mark Wamai

Research

DGT Newsletter Jan-Jun 2026

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Cover page of the DGT Newsletter Jan-Jun 2026. Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

It is a pleasure to present the January – June 2026 edition of the MakGrad Newsletter by Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training. At the Directorate of Graduate Training we are committed to building an enabling environment where our students can flourish and their academic journey is well-supported. Formerly one of the two main divisions that constituted the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, the stand alone Directorate of Graduate Training is mandated to coordinate and administer all matters related to postgraduate studies.

At time when Makerere University is steadily transforming into a research led institution, we are on hand to review and initiate policies meant to provide a conducive environment for graduate training and innovative research. From redesigned PhD crosscutting courses, enhanced supervision structures, improved infrastructure, to stronger partnerships with global institutions — we are laying the foundation for increased success.

In this edition of our newsletter, we share with you highlights of some of the activities during the period January – June 2026. The 76th graduation ceremony in February 2026 recorded key important in roads in Makerere University’s efforts to respond to the country’s need for increased capacity in doctoral training. The 213 PhDs was a significant increase from the previous number of 144. It reflects an intentional progress towards increased completion rates. Beyond focusing on technical expertise, the Directorate coordinates efforts to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and interdisciplinary fluency of all our graduate students. Today’s challenges rarely fit neatly into one discipline; they demand collaboration across disciplinary fields. In this edition of the Newsletter, we share some of the training of trainers and learners’ trainings we have conducted to achieve this objective.

I thank all the staff of the Directorate and the university at large, the graduate students and all the stakeholder for the support and collaboration. You are part of a growing, supportive community committed to excellence and transformation that our country prides in.

Assoc. Prof. Julius Kikooma
Acting Director

Mak Editor

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CARTA Newsletter: Jan – June 2026

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Cover page of the CARTA Newsletter: Jan – June 2026. Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA)

The latest Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) Newsletter (Issue 22, January–June 2026), themed Research to Impact showcases how CARTA fellows, graduates, and partner institutions are moving evidence beyond publications into policy, practice, innovation, and everyday lives.

An article titled “Why Research Uptake Requires More Than Good Science” featuring Dr. Godwin Anywar, a Lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University’s work precisely captures this transition. His research began by systematically documenting indigenous medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Uganda to support people living with HIV/AIDS. This work has grown into internationally recognized science that has informed understanding of traditional medicine, sparked global collaborations, and even reached communities through a traveling mobile museum.

Dr. Anywar’s personal reflection captures this succinctly: producing good research was only the beginning. Visibility, deliberate communication, sustained engagement, and opportunities to share the work were equally essential in transforming locally generated evidence into global influence.

Beyond his work, this edition of the Newsletter captures; research shaping better care for TB survivors in Malawi, smarter solutions for mosquito control emerging, efforts to transform graduate supervision institution by institution, and reflections on embedding stakeholder engagement as a core university function.

Read the Full Newsletter

Mark Wamai

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Mak-RIF Bi-Annual Bulletin Issue 6: Jan-Jun 2026

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Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents Prof. Daniel Branch (C) with the Makerere necktie and Makerere@100 Coffee Table Book as Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi (R) witnesses during his visit on 13th February 2026. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

It is my pleasure to present the sixth issue of the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) Bi-Annual Bulletin, highlighting the remarkable progress made between January and June 2026 in advancing research, innovation, knowledge translation, and capacity building at Makerere University.

This edition demonstrates the transformative impact of research supported by the Government of Uganda through Mak-RIF. Across diverse disciplines, researchers continue to generate practical, evidence-based solutions to Uganda’s most pressing development challenges, including food security, public health, clean energy, climate resilience, education reform, digital transformation, and public sector productivity. These achievements reaffirm the critical role of research and innovation in driving national development and improving the lives of Ugandans.

The stories featured in this bulletin are a testimony that Makerere University is strengthening its position as a research-intensive institution committed to producing knowledge that addresses societal needs. Through technologies that convert invasive water hyacinth into renewable fuel, innovations in food safety through machine learning, improved agricultural technologies, digital public sector solutions, groundbreaking advances in teacher education, and more, researchers continue to demonstrate that locally generated knowledge can deliver globally relevant solutions.

Equally encouraging is the University’s continued commitment to building strategic international partnerships. Makerere’s engagement with the University of Warwick reflects our shared vision of strengthening collaborative research, graduate training, innovation, and institutional capacity. Such partnerships expand opportunities for our researchers and students while contributing to the global exchange of knowledge required to address increasingly complex development challenges.This issue also highlights Mak-RIF’s growing emphasis on research knowledge translation. Through dedicated capacity-building initiatives, researchers are being equipped to communicate their findings more effectively to policymakers, practitioners, industry, and the public. By strengthening the interface between research, policy, and practice, we are ensuring that scientific evidence informs decision-making and delivers measurable impact beyond academia.

The continued growth in high-quality research publications showcased in this bulletin further demonstrates the increasing visibility and influence of Makerere University’s research community. These scholarly contributions not only advance scientific knowledge but also strengthen Uganda’s participation in global research while fostering innovation, collaboration, and evidence-informed policymaking.

These accomplishments would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Government of Uganda, whose investment in Mak-RIF continues to strengthen the University’ research and innovation ecosystem. I commend our researchers, project teams, University leadership, industry collaborators, government MDAs, and communities for their commitment and collaboration. I invite you to explore the inspiring stories presented in this bulletin and celebrate the collective achievements of our researchers and Makerere University.

Prof. Fred Masagazi-Masaazi
Chairperson, Grants Management Committee (GMC)

Mak Editor

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