Health
Alumni Event to Celebrate Makerere & Karolinska Partnership held
Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Karolinska Institutet (KI), Sweden hosted their alumni to celebrate the strategic partnership of the two institutions which began in 2000. The event was held on the 5th May 2022 at the Dean’s Gardens, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hill, Kampala, Uganda. The collaboration between MakCHS and Karolinska Institutet began in 2000 initially focused on joint research projects.
Makerere University and KI signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003 to support doctoral education and the collaboration expanded to include exchange of faculty and students. As a result of the collaboration between the two institutions, an active alumni network was created including health professionals and researchers. More than 300 faculty and students have benefited from the collaboration supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). Over 40 PhDs graduates and 500 peer-reviewed articles have been realized from the strategic partnership. Study programmes covered under the partnership include: Dentistry, Medicine, Midwifery, Nursing, Public Health Sciences and Speech and Language Pathology.
In his welcome remarks the Deputy Principal MakCHS, Prof. Isaac Kajja, who represented the Principal Prof Damalie Nakanjako, welcomed everyone and those attending from outside Uganda to the Pearl of Africa. He thanked the founding fathers of this collaboration, “some are still with us and others have since passed on” he said. Prof. Kajja said, “I thank KI and Sida for what you have done for Makerere and this country’. He noted that ‘Makerere is a prestigious university but the turbulent times of the 70s and 80s had taken us back. Its collaborations like this one with KI that have picked us up making MakCHS the 2nd best medical training college in sub-Saharan Africa”. Prof. Kajja congratulated the alumni more especially this year as Makerere celebrates 100years. He encouraged the alumni to adjust their thinking to leverage the past, and present to deliver the future noting that while previously it was infectious diseases; today it is changing to emerging infections and non-communicable diseases.
In his remarks, the President of KI – Ole Petter Ottersen congratulated Makerere University as they celebrate 100years this year. It was a pleasure to meet the Vice Chancellor of Makerere earlier today who shared with us the history of the University, he noted. The KI President highlighted that Makerere shares a rich history with KI. He explained that while KI has many international partnerships, the one with Makerere is the flagship collaboration. Ottersen further said, “we look to a further 50years of collaboration and hope to apply a sustainable approach in the new CESH programme. This is not a ‘hit and run’ but we are giving it a long-term perspective”. He expressed his appreciation that following the bad news of September 2020 that the Main Building of Makerere University was burning, he visited the site and happy to see that it is being re-built. He congratulated the alumni from the various nations who have benefited from the collaboration.
Prof. Umar Kakumba, Deputy Vice Chancellor/Academic Affairs represented the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the event. Prof. Kakumba in his remarks delivered warm greetings from the Vice Chancellor and Makerere leadership. “I am privileged this evening to welcome KI delegation which is a showcase of the fruits of collaboration. Our universities have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration; it began with research collaboration which grew into capacity building among others, 300 beneficiaries have been aided to-date”.
He appreciated the Government of Sweden which has supported these initiatives noting that on the 9th to 10th May 2022, an international conference showcasing the impactful works supported through Sida over the last 20years will be hosted by Makerere University at Munyonyo Speke Resort. The current strategic direction for Makerere University as an institution is research-led and evidence-based decision making with fostering research training as our niche, Prof. Kakumba said. He reiterated that more than peer-reviewed publications, our research should be translated into products, technologies and policies to inform better livelihoods for our population. Prof. Kakumba thanked MakCHS for the leadership and flagship programmes to support Makerere University’ strategic direction.
A major milestone in Uganda’s efforts to reduce newborn mortality was marked on June 17, 2026, when Makerere University College of Health Sciences graduated the first cohort of fellows from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme.
The pioneering cohort of five specialists completed the two-year sub-specialty fellowship designed to equip pediatricians with advanced competencies in newborn care, leadership, research, advocacy, and neonatal intensive care. The programme is accredited by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and is implemented through a partnership involving Makerere University, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, Seed Global Health and Elma Philanthropies.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Principal of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Bruce Kirenga, described the occasion as a significant achievement for Makerere University and Uganda’s health sector.
“Today is a very important occasion for the College of Health Sciences, and indeed the health sector in Uganda,” he said, noting that the fellowship was established to develop highly skilled specialists capable of responding to increasingly complex healthcare needs.
Prof. Kirenga emphasized that Uganda’s changing disease patterns, increasing life expectancy, and growing demand for specialized healthcare services have created an urgent need for super-specialized training programmes. He challenged the graduates to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills to improve newborn health outcomes and save lives.
Addressing Uganda’s Neonatal Health Burden
Presenting an overview of the fellowship programme, the Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Prof. Victor Musiime, highlighted the urgent need for specialists in neonatal care.
He noted that neonatal deaths, those occurring within the first 28 days of life, remain one of the leading contributors to child mortality in Uganda. The country continues to face a shortage of professionals with advanced skills in neonatal care, research, leadership, and advocacy.
“The demand for neonatologists remains extremely high,” Prof. Musiime explained, adding that the Ministry of Health envisions deploying neonatologists to regional referral hospitals and other health facilities across the country.
The fellowship programme was established to build a critical mass of neonatologists, strengthen care for high-risk newborns, develop expertise in advanced neonatal procedures, and produce leaders and advocates for newborn health.
A unique feature of the programme is its strong clinical apprenticeship model, complemented by international placements at leading institutions, including Yashoda Hospital in India and Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
Ministry Commits to Expanding Neonatal Services
Representing the Ministry of Health, Commissioner for Maternal and Child Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, congratulated the graduates and commended Makerere University and its partners for establishing the fellowship programme.
Dr. Mugahi revealed that the five graduates join another five neonatologists already serving in Uganda, bringing the country’s total number of neonatologists to ten. He described the locally trained fellows as a critical addition to Uganda’s healthcare workforce.
“The Ministry’s vision is to have a neonatologist at every Regional Referral Hospital,” he said, adding that Uganda aims to have at least 14 neonatologists by 2030.
He further outlined government plans to strengthen newborn care through the establishment of specialized neonatal care units at different levels of the health system, ranging from Health Centre IVs to Regional Referral Hospitals and super-specialized facilities such as Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.
Dr. Mugahi assured the graduates that the Ministry of Health is investing in equipment and infrastructure to support advanced neonatal services and pledged to advocate for improved career progression pathways for super-specialized health professionals.
Makerere’s Commitment to Advanced Medical Training
Representing the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, congratulated the fellows and their families on the achievement.
He praised the College of Health Sciences for its contribution to national development and noted that programmes such as the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship enhance Makerere University‘s position as a leader in knowledge generation and societal transformation.
Prof. Alinaitwe paid tribute to the graduates’ families, particularly their spouses and children, for supporting them through the demanding years of specialist training.
“The work you do is truly priceless,” he told the fellows. “The contribution you make to humanity is immeasurable.”
Graduates Hailed as Future Leaders in Newborn Health
In attendance were the director of Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, Dr. Sam Ononge, Deputy Director Mulago Referral Hospital, Dr. John Sekabira, Dr. Mary Nyanzi from Kawempe Referral Hospital, Sr. Dr. Assumpta Nabawanuka, the Director of St. Francis Hospital Nsambya, Dr. Irene Atuhaire from Seed Global Health Uganda and Ms. Ritah Akankwasa from ELMA Philanthropies Services, who partnered with the college in training the fellows.
The training partners described the graduates as pioneers who had demonstrated exceptional resilience and commitment throughout the rigorous training programme.
They applauded their contributions to patient care, teaching, mentorship, and supportive supervision, noting that their work had already contributed to improvements in maternal and newborn health services in Kampala and other regions of Uganda.
“As Kawempe National Referral Hospital, we have been privileged to witness your growth, not only as clinicians but also as leaders and advocates for newborn health,” Dr. Nyanzi said.
The graduates
- Dr. Tumwebaze Anita Kiiza Muhumuza
- Dr. Ediamu Tom Didimus
- Dr. Kezia Kibedi
- Dr. Hellen Kyokutamba
- Dr. Gerald Ojambo
For most people, the thought of death evokes grief, fear, or loss. But at Makerere University‘s College of Health Sciences, death became a lesson in gratitude, service, and humanity as students, faculty, and health professionals gathered to honour a unique group of teachers, individuals who continued to educate future doctors long after their passing.
At the Second Cadaver Commemoration Ceremony, on June 11, 2026, organized by the Makerere Students’ Anatomy Society, candles flickered softly as students paid tribute to what they fondly call their “silent teachers”, the human bodies that make it possible for medical students to learn anatomy and develop the skills that will one day save lives.
Standing before fellow students and guests, Chairperson of the Makerere Students’ Anatomy Society, Joseph Mwera, reminded the audience that the ceremony was not about mourning the dead.
“Today, we gather not only to remember those whose bodies have contributed to medical education but also to celebrate their lives,” he said. “Their legacy continues to inspire and serve humanity even after death.”
For many medical students, the anatomy laboratory is where they first encounter the reality of the profession they have chosen. Behind every lesson on muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs is a person who once lived, loved, worked, and contributed to society.
That reality was brought to life by the keynote speaker, Rev. Prof. Dr. Samuel Luboga, a surgeon, anatomist, and priest who spent nearly four decades teaching anatomy at Makerere University.
Reflecting on his own days as a medical student, Prof. Luboga recalled spending long hours in the anatomy laboratory after his classmates had gone home, studying human anatomy in detail.
Many people wondered whether he was afraid to spend so much time among cadavers.
His answer was simple.
“These men and women had lived productive lives. They had raised families, served their communities, and contributed to Uganda’s development. Even in death, they continued to teach us the science and art of medicine. They had earned my admiration, my respect, and my gratitude.”
His remarks resonated deeply with the students in attendance.
In a society where discussions about death and body donation remain sensitive, Prof. Luboga challenged participants to view the individuals in anatomy laboratories not as lifeless remains but as people who continue to contribute to humanity through education.
“The silent teachers before us today made learning possible,” he said. “The impact of their contribution is reflected in the doctors you have become and those you are yet to become. It is reflected in the countless patients you will treat and the innumerable lives you will save.”
Legal framework to guide body donation
The ceremony also sparked important conversations about the future of anatomical education in Uganda.
Head of the Department of Anatomy, Prof. Elisa Mwaka, highlighted the need for a national legal framework to guide body donation and anatomical research. While anatomy training in Uganda has traditionally relied on unclaimed bodies obtained through hospitals, he noted that many countries are increasingly embracing voluntary body donation programmes.
According to Prof. Mwaka, building public trust will be essential if Uganda is to establish a sustainable body donation programme.
“We must help the public understand how human bodies contribute to medical education, how they are treated with dignity, and how appropriate legal safeguards can protect donors and their families,” he said.
He revealed that discussions are already underway to develop an Anatomy Act that would provide a modern legal and ethical framework for the use of human remains in medical education and research.
Representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Julius Kikooma described the ceremony as much more than an academic event.
“Behind every competent healthcare professional stands an invaluable source of learning that often remains unseen and unheard,” he said. “These individuals taught us without speaking a single word. Though they are no longer able to communicate, their contribution continues to educate, inspire, and shape future generations of healthcare professionals.”
He commended the medical students for organizing what remains the only cadaver commemoration ceremony of its kind in Uganda, noting that the initiative reflects the values of compassion, professionalism, and respect for human dignity that are at the heart of medicine.
The event concluded with recognition of past and present leaders of the Department of Anatomy whose contributions have shaped anatomical education at Makerere University over the decades. Students also honoured exceptional educators who have inspired generations of future health professionals.
Yet the most powerful tribute of the day was reserved for those who could not be present to receive awards or applause.
The silent teachers
Individuals whose names may never appear in textbooks, whose stories may never be fully known, but whose gift continues to echo through hospital wards, operating theatres, and communities across Uganda.
Every doctor trained, every surgery performed, and every life saved carries a small part of their legacy.
And for one day at Makerere University, students paused to say the words that are rarely spoken aloud: Thank you.
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