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.
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Inaugural Falling Walls Lab Competition as Innovators Pitch Solutions to National Challenges
Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.
The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.
Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.
Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device
Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.
Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.
During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.
He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.
The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.
Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.
Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste
Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.
Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.
The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.
John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.
The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.
During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.
Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment
Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.
Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.
Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.
He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.
According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.
Innovators present solutions to practical challenges
The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.
Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.
Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.
His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.
Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.
Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.
His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.
Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.
Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.
Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.
Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.
The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.
Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.
Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.
Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation
Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.
Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.
He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.
Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.
He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.
The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.
| Position | Winner | Institution | Score |
| 1st | Andrew Mudhasi | Makerere University | 90% |
| 2nd | Rhoda John | University of Nairobi | 89.6% |
| 3rd | Stuart Mahera | Makerere University | 86.2% |
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