Health
Medical School Class of 1976 Visits Mak, Applauds Progress & Evolution
On Saturday 12th March 2022, the Medical School class of 1976 visited Makerere University their alma mater and an institution that laid the foundation for them to become successful professionals.
The historic visit took place after 46 years (1976-2022) and comes at a time when Makerere University is celebrating 100 years of existence (1922-2022)!
With beaming smiles, their eyes widened and faces sparkled as they entered the Main Campus through the Makerere University Main Gate. You would tell that our alumni were happy to be back home! Throughout the tour, a wave of home coming, a sense of belonging, attachment and true love filled the spaces!
The alumni led by Dr. Phillipa Musoke, a Professor at the School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences (CHS) and their Chairperson, Dr. Yiga Matovu toured key University spaces and facilities including Makerere University Central Teaching Facility 1 that houses the University Administration and lecture spaces, the Freedom Square, Senate Building, Main Library, Africa Hall, Livingstone Hall, the Dental School and Makerere University Hospital.
According to Dr. Phillipa Musoke, they decided to visit Makerere University to re-ignite the fond memories, to have an experience of Makerere University of the times, and to appreciate the changes and developments.
In line with their desire, the Principal Public Relations Officer of Makerere University, Ms. Ritah Namisango lined up a team of experienced university staff who interacted with the Medical School class of 1976.
Speaking to the writer, Ms. Namisango revealed that she planned the tour focusing on the need for our alumni to see and appreciate the transformation of Makerere University from the time they were at this great institution (1976) to date. “I briefed the Members of staff who were designated to interact with our alumni to gladly share the story of evolution and continued growth,” she remarked.
At the Main Library, the alumni were received by Mr. Patrick Sekikome who briefed them on the shift from manual access of library services to the digital services. The alumni could recall the times (1976) manual catalogues and were pleased to see the new catalogues and technological innovations that are used to access books both online and within the Library.
“Access to Library services has evolved with the times. If you need to get a book from the Main Library, you don’t need to go to those stands as you used to, you only go to the Library website, we have the online catalog and once you get here, you check for any book of your interest. All the guides are uploaded online,” Mr. Sekikome explained.
At Makerere University Hospital, the alumni were welcomed by the Director Makerere University Health Services Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha. He shared with joy the history and journey of the health facility that has evolved from a sick bay to a hospital status.
“I am very happy to receive you at Makerere University Hospital. This Hospital is now under Makerere University College of Health Sciences. This was done to ensure that the hospital is aligned to the health services as well as to improve the services for provision of better health care. I was part of the team that formulated the idea. What we have gotten so far from literature and what is available online is that prior to 1972. The University maintained the health post known as Makerere University Students health service or sick bay, and then it acquired premises formerly known as the Nile Nursing Home that was owned by the Indian community. In 1978, the then President Idi Amin crowned the sick bay, the hospital status. Around 2017, the management of the University hospital was delegated to the College of Health Sciences,” Prof. Byamugisha explained.
Commenting about the evolution of dental services at Makerere University, he said: “It is true that at one time, the dental school was closed and later re-opened in 2019 after acquiring enough space for construction of the school and hospital. I am glad that you are visiting at a time when the Makerere University Dental School is fully operational. It is one of the best dental hospitals in the region.”
On behalf of the alumni, Dr. Philippa Musoke applauded the University administration for the tremendous work done to ensure that Makerere University continues to grow by adapting to the times.
“It has been a very big difference. When I was here as a student in 1976, I stayed in Africa Hall and I used to walk through Katanga to go to the Medical School. Today, Saturday 12th March 2022, we have visited the Library, it was a small Library then now it is expanded, also technology is being used. They showed us how you can access books and periodicals online as well as journal articles. Then we went to the University Hospital. We used to call it the sick bay but it’s now a very nicely renovated hospital and we are amazed by what their plans are but also what is being done already. The compound is also expanded and there are many more buildings than when we were here. Many more colleges, Departments have put up buildings such as Computer Science, Economics, Women and Gender Studies,” she noted.
Dr. Musoke requested the University Council and Manaement to use the available space to construct more halls for students to stay on campus and also reconstruct the Main Building that was gutted by fire in September 2020.
“We look forward to the restoration of the Main Building. I have observed that there are a lot of buildings, we didn’t see new halls/hostels at the Main Campus. It’s nice if there is space to provide a place where students can stay on campus.”
Dr. Yiga Matovu was pleased to note that in addition to re-connecting with their alma mater, the visit provided new learning experiences especially in the area of health training.
“Our visit will be memorable. It is great that we have learnt about the progress being made in the area of training of health professionals and the plans the University has for training programs. I am really uplifted by the good plans. Let us implement them for the good of the nation,” Dr. Yiga said.
Dr. Bira Ann Migrate, a Lecturer at the Dental School and Clinical Head at the Dental Hospital was humbled and delighted to receive and interact with guests of that caliber. She hailed them for their roles in making Makerere University Dental School great again.
“We are happy to show them that we have grown from that small corridor in Mulago to a hospital at the University Campus. We are really glad to have hosted them and we hope they can come and visit us more often. Most of them have actually supported the development of this Dental Hospital. It may not have been directly, but some of them played a significant role to ensure that the Dental School remained open. They supported us in the background through their networks, so we are happy to receive them here at the Dental School. It is a testimony that we have moved on,” Dr. Bira said.
The Medical Class of 1976 that visited on 12th March 2022
- Dr. Deogratius Iga Matovu; Senior Consultant Radiologist, retired private practitioner
- Dr. Margret Kasande; retired private practitioner
- Dr. Sabastiano Nkakyekorera; Radiologist, retired
- Dr. Cephas Mijumbi; Senior Consultant Anesthesiologist, Uganda Heart Institute (UHI)
- Prof. Josephine Namuganwa Kasolo; Physiologist, College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University
- Dr .V. B. Joseph Tindimwebwa; Anaesthesiologist, Lecturer and Former Head of Anaesthesia, College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University, retired
- Dr. Adrigwe Joseph; Internist/Physician, RSA, private practitioner
- Prof. Phillipa Musoke; Paediatrician, Makerere University-Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration (MUJHU) and Board Member Mulago Hospital
- Prof. Jehu Erapu Iputo, Physiologist, Busitema University
- Dr. Jullie Mbisirikire K. N; Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Rubaga Hospital
- Dr. Peter Musoke; Psychiatrist, RSA, retired
- Dr. Davis Mubeezi; Public Health expert, retired private practitioner
- Dr. Buwembo-Kakande M.B.; Lecturer, Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU)
- Dr. Jaffer Sadiq Balyejjusa; Senior Consultant Surgeon, Busitema University
- Dr. Patrick Byaruhanga; Public Health expert, retired
- Dr. Kaguna Amooti; Public Health Expert, private practitioner
- Dr. George Unyuthi; private practitioner
- Dr. Francis Adatu Engwau; Epidemiologist, retired
- Dr. B.D. Mugisa; Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon, Senior Lecturer, Nsambya Hospital
Written by: Alex Mugalu (Finalist-Journalism and Communication), Makerere University
The Iteso Cultural Leader, His Highness Emorimor Papa Paul Sande Emolot, has called on Makerere University to elevate the Science of Designing, Adaptation, and Implementation of Evidence-Based Parenting Interventions course into a fully-fledged programme. This, he argued, would strengthen the capacity of practitioners implementing parenting interventions across Uganda.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony held on 11th June 2025 at Makerere University where 35 practitioners completed the 12-week course, Emorimor Papa Emolot emphasized the transformative power of effective parenting. He urged aspiring parents and advocates of the Parenting for Respectability model to enroll in the course.
Citing the impact in his own sub-county and village, the cultural leader revealed that over 800 families had already benefited from the programme.
“We now see peace and love in homes where there was once conflict. Without good parenting, you risk raising animals instead of children,” he passionately stated.
He praised the course for equipping practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with the skills needed to design culturally sensitive, evidence-based parenting interventions tailored to Uganda’s context. Among the notable graduates was Her Royal Majesty Juliet Among Emolot Atomeileng Akaliat Toto, who reaffirmed her commitment to advancing family-strengthening initiatives using the skills and knowledge acquired.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at Makerere University, described the course as a timely intervention. During this remarks, Dr. Siu described the event as a significant milestone in advancing the field of evidence based parenting intervention and family strengthening in Uganda.
“This course is meant to empower you as practitioners, policy makers and all those involved in development and implementation of parenting work. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical tools essential for developing high quality interventions”, Dr. Siu noted. He urged the pioneer group to carry forward the expertise as champions of designing, adaptation and implementation of evidence parenting interventions.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Dr. Aggrey David Kibenge, Juliana Naumo, Commissioner for Culture and Family Affairs, said the course supports the government’s agenda to address negative social outcomes affecting families.
“By grounding parenting in research, harmonizing policy with practice, and advocating for equity, we will ensure no family is left behind,” she said. “Cross-sectoral collaboration is key to unlocking transformative change.”
Ms. Naumo highlighted the government’s commitment—both technical and financial—to support outstanding student projects from the course. She stressed the importance of equipping professionals with the skills to bridge gaps between research and practice for consistent, high-quality parenting support across Uganda. While delivering the Vice chancellors speech by Dr. Helen Nambalirwa, Principal of the CHUSS, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the graduates as a beacon of hope.
“At a time when parenting faces challenges like digital distractions, changing societal norms, and a rising mental health crisis, Makerere reaffirms its support for interventions that drive the societal transformation we desire,” Nawangwe stated.
Prof. Richard Idro, Deputy Principal of the College of Health Sciences, acknowledged the growing parenting challenges in Uganda and the region, adding that the course was a major step towards standardizing parenting interventions nationwide.
He applauded the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) for leading this paramount and critical initiative.
Mr. Hosea Katende, Course Administrator at CHDC, emphasized the importance of integrating systematic methods, ethical principles, robust evidence, and collaboration to create lasting impact in parenting.
Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi, Lecturer at CHDC, representing Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director of CHDC, acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the ELMA Foundation and Echidna Giving for their financial and capacity-building support. He also appreciated the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, among other stakeholders, for their technical guidance in the programme’s successful implementation.
Dr. Dhabangi extended gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and acknowledged growing collaborations with other cultural institutions such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in the shared mission of building strong families as the foundation of Uganda’s future.
He extended his heartfelt gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and others kingdoms such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in building Uganda’s future through creating strong families. Nuruh Mbalyowere, a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Officer with the Uganda Prisons Service, was honored for developing the best parenting intervention titled “Parenting Behind Prison Bars.” She expressed her intention to apply the knowledge gained both at home and in her workplace.
By Okeya John and Primrose Nabankema
The intensive one-month course, running for the first time from June 5 to July 24, 2025, is jointly offered by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH)’s Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences (CHBS) and the Department of Journalism and Communication (DJC) at the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication (SLLC), co-designed in 2024 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation through Amref Health Africa.
It seeks to equip healthcare providers at the community level, public health and environmental health practitioners, communication specialists, health educators, community development officers, social scientists, and policy makers, among others, with strategic communication skills to improve public health messaging, strengthen community engagement, and support evidence-based interventions, ultimately empowering participants to effectively engage communities and improve population health outcomes across Uganda and the region.
Launching the course, the heads of the Department of Journalism and Communication and the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences noted that participants who complete the short course will gain practical tools to influence behaviour change, build trust, and deliver timely, accurate, and relevant health information to the communities they serve. The first cohort attracted more than 60 applicants, with 36 reporting for the opening in-person session on June 5, 2025, at MakSPH in Mulago. Between now and July, participants will undergo a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience within the Certificate in Health Communication and Community Engagement program, which combines theory and practice.
Among the participants in the first cohort of the certificate course, designed as a pilot for the anticipated Master of Health Promotion and Communication to be jointly offered by the two departments at Makerere University, is Ms. Maureen Kisaakye, a medical laboratory technologist specialising in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and currently pursuing a Master’s in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology at Makerere. She is driven by a passion to help reverse the rising tide of AMR, a growing global health threat where drugs that once worked are no longer effective. Kisaakye is particularly concerned about common infections, like urinary tract infections, becoming increasingly resistant and harder to treat.
“I enrolled in this course because I’m an advocate against antimicrobial resistance, and it came at a time when I needed to deepen my knowledge on how to implement our projects more effectively and engage with communities. The experience has broadened my understanding of AMR and its impact on society, and strengthened my passion for community-driven health initiatives and advocacy,” Kisaakye said, explaining why she enrolled for the short course.
Kisaakye’s work in antimicrobial resistance extends beyond the lab. Having earned her degree in medical laboratory science from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, she founded Impala Tech Research in 2024 to drive impact and save lives. She has led grassroots AMR campaigns that integrate antimicrobial stewardship with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education in underserved urban communities, including the informal settlements in Kampala. She also has since designed peer-led initiatives that empower university students as AMR Champions, building a network of informed youth advocates. Kisaakye believes the health communication course will sharpen her ability to design and deliver impactful, community-centred interventions in response to the growing threat of drug resistance.
“The department collaborates with many partners within and beyond the University, including the School of Public Health, where we are working to develop the subfield of health communication and promotion. Our goal is to train specialists in this area and build a community of practice, something we have each been doing in our own spaces. There’s a lot of work ahead, and COVID-19 showed us just how urgently we need a generation trained to do this kind of work, and to do it very well,” said Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, during the opening of the short course on June 5.
She assured participants they were in good hands and underscored the importance of the partnership between the Department of Journalism and Communication and the School of Public Health, describing it as a vital collaboration that brings together strategic communication and public health expertise. This dynamic, multidisciplinary approach, she noted, is essential to developing practical solutions that empower communities, strengthen health systems, and ultimately improve livelihoods.
The course offers a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience, with participants intended to explore key modules including Health Communication and Promotion, Risk Communication, Smart Advocacy, Community Mapping, Community Mobilisation and Empowerment, and Strategies for Community Engagement. The course combines theory with real-world application, and its assessment includes a field-based project and a final exam.
“You are our first cohort. We are seeing the fruits of our efforts in bringing this short course to life. It was born out of a joint initiative to develop a Master’s programme in Health Promotion and Communication,” said Dr. Christine Nalwadda, Head of the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences. “We carried out extensive consultations with our different key stakeholders during the process and discovered a real need for such a course. It was the stakeholders who even named it; this course name didn’t come from us.”
For Kisaakye, by the end of the course in July, she hopes to have sharpened her skills in health promotion and strategic communication, particularly in crafting targeted messages that help individuals and communities effectively respond to threats such as antimicrobial resistance. She also aims to gain practical experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating community health initiatives that can strengthen her advocacy and drive lasting impact.
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