Makerere University and NTU staff pose for a photo with NTU Pro Vice Chancellor International, Professor Cillian Ryan (in white shirt) at the Connecting Globally Conference.
Makerere University students and staff participated in a two-month exchange programme at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the United Kingdom (UK). This was under the Erasmus + International Credit Mobility Programme between NTU and Makerere University. Makerere University has had a partnership with NTU for more than 10 years. The partnership which was initially between Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and NTU, and later expanded to include the rest other schools in the College of Health Science and other colleges within the university. In addition to MakSPH, the partnership currently involves the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES) and under College of Health Sciences (CHS) the Department of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pharmacy and Department of Nursing. The exchange programme aims at enabling exchange of knowledge and skills, personal development, capacity building, fostering new research collaborations, and cross-cultural learning between Uganda and UK for both students and faculty.
This year, a total of 27 undergraduate and post graduate students from Makerere University under the support supervision of10 faculty travelled to NTU for a 2-month exchange programme. These were from various disciplines such as public health, environmental health science, pharmacy, microbiology, nursing, veterinary medicine, forestry and geography.The students and faculty arrived in the UK on 29th May2022. While at NTU, they participated in several activities such as research seminars, conferences, writing workshops, and field trips. The microbiology and pharmacy students spent most of their time at the NTU Clifton campus where they engaged in microbiology laboratory related work.Students from forestry, geography and veterinary medicine spent most of their time at the Brackenhurst campus where they carried out GIS practicals, forest walks, and animal care activities among other learning activities. The public health and nursing students participated in activities such as hospital visits, research studies and lectures at the city campus.
Makerere University Pharmacy and Microbiology students taking part in a practical session at the NTU, Clifton campus.
In addition, students and faculty from all the disciplines participated in joint activities such as writing retreats and cultural exchange sessions. Some students also participated in conferences such as the Glow Nursing conference in Birmingham where Ms. Phiona Nambi, an undergraduate nursing student participated in a nurses’ competition and won the second runner up position. 10 students from various health related disciplines also presented at the10thInternational Festival of Public Health conference (IFPH) at the University of Manchester where Ms. Prossy Nakito, a Masters of Public Health Student was awarded the best oral presenter.All students attended lectures on professionalism, as well as writing retreats which enabled many of them to start or finalise with their theses and manuscripts. Faculty were involved in knowledge exchange and sharing through the different seminars and research work at NTU. Their continuous engagements with fellow faculty members at NTU created a base for establishing several research and project activities. For example, Mr. Samuel Kyobe a Lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology teamed up with Dr. Jody Winter and other NTU microbiology staff and wrote a grant application on antimicrobial resistance.
Makerere University students carrying out a GIS practical session at the NTU Brackenhurst campus.
At the end of the programme, a seminar which was titled “Connecting globally” was organised for all the mobility students to reflect and share their experiences while at NTU. This seminar was attended by students and staff from, NTU, Makerere University, Mt. Kenya University and Jomo Kenyatta University from Kenya.
Makerere University Erasmus + mobility students and staff pose for a photo with NTU Pro Vice Chancellor International, Professor Cillian Ryan (in white shirt) at the Connecting Globally Conference in Nottingham.
Special thanks to the partnership leads, Dr. David Musoke a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at MakSPH and Prof. Linda Gibson a Professor of Public Health,School of Social Sciences at NTU for spearheading this mobility programme.
What some students and faculty had to say:
“My time at NTU has been incredible and it will always be one of my most treasured memories. Studying while learning about various cultures was the most fruitful and enjoyable experience I’ve ever had. Most importantly, it has expanded my networks to support the development of my career. My professional, intellectual, and personal development have all benefited greatly from these priceless experiences. Mary Anne Radmacher said, I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” Prossy Nakito, Masters of Public Health student
“The NTU Brackenhurst campus was a great centre for experiential learning, with fully equipped and easy to access facilities. It was a place of great comfort and bliss as we obtained hands-on experience with what we had known and didn’t know. Reptilian, rodent, feline and caprine husbandry all checked out despite some of the phobia we had to fight through. Special thanks to the volunteer program and management at the animal unit for they handled us like their own. We are certainly grateful” David Wagaba, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
“Through this exchange programme, I have been in position to continuously engage with other scholars at different levels as well as building peer support and networks. The academic benefits therefore are of great value in strengthening my academic career, of becoming an accomplished scholar and mentor of upcoming academics as well as establishing a platform for long term collaboration in research.” Faridah Nalwanga Ssendagire, Lecturer, School of Forestry, Environmental & Geographical Sciences
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