Health
From Working as a Houseboy to Being the Best in School: Ssembuusi’s Story of Overcoming Hardships & Achieving Success
Against all odds, Allan Ssembuusi-Mayengo rose from a house boy to a First-Class student. In this episode of Makerere University’s week-long 73rd graduation ceremony slated to run from February 13-17, 2023 we present to you a story of a determined young man who never let his circumstances define him, and how he achieved the impossible through hard work, perseverance and the power of prayer. He will graduating as a second best in his class at Makerere School of Public Health (MakSPH) with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.42.
With determination and a willingness to take on any job that came his way, Ssembuusi struggled through financial hardship to make a better life for himself. From selling water at the new taxi park to working as a phone repairman and even starting a mobile manicure and pedicure business, he used his entrepreneurial spirit to support himself through University, despite the challenges he faced he carved out a path to success, proving that with grit and perseverance, anything is possible.
Born on 15th February 1996 in Kyabiiri, Kibinge Subcounty, Bukomansimbi District in Greater Masaka to Wilson Mayengo and the late Sarah Nantongo, Ssembuusi is the 4th born in his family.
School life
For the better part of his childhood, Ssembuusi stayed with his step-mother Ms. Margret Namuddu in Kawanda, Wakiso District after a separation between his mother and father. His mother later passed away while he was in Senior four (S.4). With obstacles in his path he hopped from school to school sometimes to dodge school financial requirements.
As early as 2004, he had started school at Bituntu Church of Uganda Primary School in Masaka. He only completed his Primary One class before he was transferred back to Nalujja primary school in Kawempe in Kampala, where he had a short stint of two academic terms.
In 2005, his family shifted to Kawanda, a small town located north-west of Kampala, the Uganda’s capital town. While here, he completed his Primary Two (P.2) at Little Angels Primary School, a private school. The comfort was short lived as he would later relocate to Nakyessanja Church of Uganda Primary School from P.3 until he sat his Primary Leaving Examination -PLE in 2010.
“This was so hard for me, we didn’t even have lunch at school. In the morning, our step-mom would prepare for us tea with acoil bun (Mwana akaaba) bread of Shs. 100, and this would take us all day until our next meal in the evening. My stepmom always had dinner ready whenever we returned from school. It was hard being at school, seeing your colleagues going to the canteen to buy eats during break and lunch time when you are in class “eating shadows” but still I managed to perform well. I started being in the first position in class in P.3 up to when I finished P.7. All these challenges gave me determination and courage to work hard so that I get a better future,” recollects Ssembuusi.
While in P.3, Ssembuusi was top of his class in promotional examinations but he could not access his report card because his parents had failed to pay UShs 2,000 (approximately $0.54).
“While appearing at end of term School assembly, I was announced as being in the first position—the School administration used to announce the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place holders. We didn’t have that money at home so I didn’t pick my report. With this in mind however, I just reported to P.4 at the start of the next year. The headmaster however, came reading out names of those who didn’t pick their reports, and we were all taken back to P.3,” he says.
He recalls crying endlessly by this act but would only console himself knowing the situation back at home and that his father genuinely did not have the money; “We used to eat cassava flour with avocado. We had an Avocado tree at home and we would temporarily forget hunger in seasons the tree would, bear fruits. We would pick avocado and mash it as the sauce.”
As luck would have it, Ms. Grace Nakidde, his teacher provided him the required Ushs.2,000 that granted him access to his report, and then became officially promoted to the next class in 2006.
Ssembuusi, was frequently engaged in various household tasks, which caught the attention of a neighbor. At the age of 12, while in Primary Five, he went to work for this neighbor as a houseboy to earn money for school fees.
“At the time, we were paying around Ushs 10,000 (approximately $2.72), for remedial classes and Ushs 5,000 for lunch. I used to work day and night, but I stayed focused because I wanted to study. I would go to School barefooted. At P.7, I got 9 aggregates and this was the only first grade at my school.”
Ssembuusi’s excellent performance earned him a bursary to attend Central College Kawempe, a school owned by a relative of his employer. Despite this financial aid, he still had to pay for some school materials, which prompted him to continue working at home. “I would wash cars for our neighbor every day to buy books, but I still excelled and was the best in all three terms of S.1,” he said. However, due to the mistreatment he experienced as a houseboy, Ssembuusi confided in his parents, who then spoke to his employer. Unfortunately, this led to the loss of his bursary.
“Since my parents were unable to pay for my education at Central College Kawempe, they transferred me to Luteete Senior Secondary School in Luweero. I am grateful to Mrs. Kiwanuka who, through our shared faith at Elim Pentecostal church in Kawanda, connected me to Luteete where I was able to obtain a half bursary. This required me to raise Ushs 150,000 (approximately $40.82) on my own. Despite this, things were still difficult for me, as I often only had Ushs 20,000 (approximately $5.44) to last me through the entire term.”
Ssembuusi states that the school’s provision of lunch and supper helped him stay focused. He adds, “Sometimes I sold my lunch to afford necessities like books and pens, but I still excelled and remained the best throughout my stay, up to S.4. I scored 13 out of 8 aggregates, the best performance in the school’s 60-year history. I achieved it through hard work and prayer, even fasting dry for 3 days.”
After getting his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results, Ssembusi moved to Wampeewo Ntakke Senior Secondary School along Gayaza Road with the help of his former head teacher Mr. Mike Ssekaggo. He says, “I scored 12 points in BCM/ICT and I remember getting a D1 in Biology Paper 3. I was also the founder and pioneer of the school’s Science Club.” After finishing S.6, he found a job as a porter at a construction site near his school. He adds, “Although students saw me working there, I was determined to survive. Later, my former head teacher helped me get a job as a canteen attendant at his school, where I stayed for 1 and a half years.”
Failing to join University and Resorting to Barber and Taxi Tout
Ssembuusi had always dreamed of going to university, but his journey was not an easy one., Despite sitting for his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) in 2016 with hope to join a university in 2017, he was not admitted to any of the institutions he applied to on his application forms. He lost that year of 2017 and decided to try again in 2018. “I had understood my points, and weights better and thought by trying on a Diploma, I would get admission. I applied for a diploma in Education at National Teachers College NTC Kaliro, but was not admitted once again”
Feeling defeated, Ssembuusi left his job as a canteen attendant and returned home, but struggled to find any opportunities. However, things still weren’t working out and he found himself living with his uncle who was a barber and taught him the trade. He also started working as a conductor on a taxi route from Jinja road-Kawanda-Matugga, where he used to meet his old teachers and colleagues. He felt like a failure, but still held on to hope for better opportunities.
“We used to ply the Jinja road route. I grew up on this route and so I had mastered it. While in this trade, I would meet my teachers, my former colleagues, the students I used to discuss for. For once, I felt like I was a total failure,” says Ssembuusi.
One day while operating as a taxi tout in Wandegeya, he bumped into an old friend, Jackline Nankya, who in 2020 graduated from MakSPH. They had studied together at Wampeewo Ntakke Senior Secondary School. Concerned about him she asked for his contact to check on him. Ssembuusi explained his situation and Jackline told him about the Government Loan Scheme program, a fund that awards study loans to Ugandan students seeking to pursue Higher Education but are financially constrained. She helped him apply for a course in Environmental Health Science, which he made his first choice, and also helped him apply for the Government Loan Scheme.
Ssembuusi was in a dilemma, he had even prepared to go to the United Arab Emirates to do “Kyeeyo” (cheap employment for immigrants to the developed world) with some sisters that were already there. His parents were excited about the prospect of him making money. “I didn’t tell them [parents] when I applied. I told them when I was admitted. I was in a dilemma and in fear of how my parents would react to me leaving an opportunity to work and provide for them.”
He sought advice from a few people, including his boss in the taxi business, before ultimately telling his parents. To his surprise, they were overjoyed when he finally shared his plans with them. They had the assumption that Makerere University was the only university in Uganda.
Life at MakSPH
Determined to succeed, Ssembuusi used all the money he made working in the taxi to buy the requirements needed for his first year. He was so passionate about his studies that he even joined a week before his colleagues and was voted unopposed as class representative. “This is where my journey to perform well started,” he says.
Adding that; “After our first lecture with Ms. Ruth Mubeezi, I felt deeply inspired. I approached her after class and shared my struggles with her. Her words of encouragement and assurance that I would be able to manage school, gave me the courage and determination to push forward. And that’s how I embarked on my journey towards achieving a first-class degree, starting off with a strong 4.6 GPA in my first semester.”
He commuted to school in his first semester, but during a brief holiday before the second semester, he decided to stop commuting and go back to his taxi business in the Old Taxi Park to earn money for accommodation. He was able to get some money and temporarily moved into Nkrumah Hall, one of the halls of residence for male students admitted to Makerere University, named after the great pan Africanist Nkwame Nkrumah of Ghana with a friend Kelvin Langat.
“I wanted to go back to work as a conductor to earn money for accommodation but it was the festive season so things didn’t work out. I decide to sell sugarcanes in Old Taxi Park because most people there, knew me. I used to contribute something and stay with him on the same bed before COVID came in and we had to leave campus,” a teary Ssembuusi recalls.
COVID-19 and Ssembuusi’s campus nail business
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, it brought with it a host of challenges for students like Ssembuusi. With lockdowns in place and classes conducted online, Ssembuusi was forced to find ways to make ends meet. Like many students, Ssembuusi found himself struggling to afford the costs of accommodation, and everyday living expenses.
“I went to New Taxi Park (the old one was closed for renovation at this time) and sold water there. It was a tough moment, because I found so many classmates there boarding taxis to go about their business. I wanted to quit, but I also still wanted to survive,” he says.
The Student Loan Scheme is a cost sharing initiative. The Loan strictly covers the academic component, i.e., Tuition fees, Functional fees, Research fees, Aids and Appliances for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). For Ssembusi’s case, the loan covered Ushs1.8m fees inclusive of functional fees and he is indebted to the loan scheme; “I am thankful for the Student Loan Scheme for enabling me to continue my education, however, they have not yet paid for my last three semesters, preventing me from accessing my transcript until the debt is fully cleared. Despite the delay in payments, they would still allow us to sit for exams with the assurance that they would pay later.”
It was during this time that Ssembuusi stumbled upon an unexpected opportunity. At a friend’s home, he discovered a salon offering manicures and pedicures. Intrigued, he asked the owner to teach him the trade, and soon found himself learning the skills needed to set up his own mobile manicure and pedicure business.
With the support of his classmates, Ssembuusi’s business quickly took off. Working on almost all of his female classmates, Ssembuusi found himself juggling the demands of her coursework and his business. But he was committed to making it work, and with the help of a loan from a friend, he was able to purchase the equipment he needed to keep his business running.
“I have been doing pedicure and manicure, and all my clients have been my colleagues. I was charging 10,000 to 30,000 Ushs for gel nails. People perceive it as a “low-key job”, and I am sure it’s hard for most campusers to do this kind of work especially on their classmates. I know some people come from advantaged families, but for those of us who have been disadvantaged, please don’t look down on any opportunities or jobs that will help you raise some money to sustain you,” he says.
“I think I have worked on almost all my female classmates. The business boomed, I started getting recommendations but it was a challenge on my side to attend lectures and also attend to clients. My course is a full day course, and being a course representative, I had to be around. I managed to schedule my clients in the evenings and over the weekends when I worked all day.
Ssembuusi has throughout his school life struggled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, but along the way found ways to overcome it through self-improvement and taking advantage of opportunities. He was active in the school community, serving as a class representative and holding leadership positions in Makerere University Environmental Health Students Association (MUEHSA).
He found success in extracurricular activities, such as participating in medical camps and running events. After finishing his course, Ssembuusi sought guidance from his mentors and ultimately landed a volunteer position under the mentorship of Dr. David Musoke, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH). His future goal is to pursue a Masters and eventually a PHD in academia and research. He encourages others to take advantage of opportunities in order to be successful.
To achieve a first class, one must put in hard work and strive to do their best. “I didn’t set out to achieve a first class, but I now understand its value. A lecturer once told us, ‘Don’t listen to those who say a first class isn’t worth it – if you can earn one, go for it.’ That’s my advice to my peers – aim for the best and don’t be discouraged. I didn’t actively pursue a first class, but my efforts paid off in the form of this distinction,” says Ssembuusi.
He adds; “Mr. Frederick Oporia, who taught me inspection, court etiquettes, and environmental health legislation, is my standout lecturer and role model. Currently the Head of Trauma, Injury, & Disability (TRIAD) unit, he continues to inspire me. Additionally, Dr. David Musoke, who is my mentor, is someone I look up to and strive to emulate in my work.”
On April 23, 2025, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) convened district leaders, health managers, and project partners to disseminate the outcomes of a major leadership and management strengthening initiative in Wakiso District, Central Uganda. The one-year project, part of the Global Health Partnerships programme funded by NHS England, was implemented in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakiso District Local Government, and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Launched in 2024, the project titled Strengthening Leadership and Management Among Local Government Health Managers in Wakiso District, aimed to co-design and pilot a leadership and management training tailored to the realities of Uganda’s decentralised health system. The intervention, led by Makerere University’s Dr. David Musoke and Nottingham Trent University’s Prof. Linda Gibson, through the over 15-year-old NTU-Mak Partnership impacting lives in Wakiso, began with a field visit to over 60 public health facilities in the district, a needs assessment within these facilities to identify key priority gaps, and a baseline survey with the health in-charges to establish the initial status of key indicators.
“We have been very fortunate to work with a supportive local government in Wakiso, from the top leadership down. While many projects struggle to engage district teams, our longstanding relationship with Wakiso made collaboration seamless. Although this was our first initiative specifically focused on leadership and management, we hope it will serve as a stepping stone for even more impactful work in the future,” Dr. David Musoke, a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University and the Uganda Project Lead, said during the dissemination workshop, highlighting the key success factors for the leadership and management project.
Initial results from the needs assessment and baseline on leadership and management competencies conducted among Wakiso District health facility supervisors early last year by the project team and shared during the three-day workshop in June 2024, held in Kampala, which kickstarted the six-month structured fellowship programme for 53 health managers in Wakiso, had found critical capacity gaps. Using a tool evaluating 17 leadership and 33 management competencies, only 40% of the managers met the 80% benchmark for leadership, scoring highest in cognitive skills, while just 33% met the required management standard, performing best in self-management and lowest in quality management.
Then, the health facility managers with postgraduate training, longer service, and strong team dynamics, showed overall better performance. While working relationships with subordinates and the district leadership were largely positive, performance was hampered by systemic challenges such as limited resources, low motivation, and weak teamwork. Overall, the study also pointed to a misalignment of expectations between the District Local Government and the Health Ministry, underscoring the need to strengthen coordination to improve services.
The result of this mismatch was to the effect that, as of this time last year, Wakiso District ranked among the bottom 10 on the national health league table, which is an annual Ministry of Health assessment of district performance across key service delivery and patient satisfaction indicators. This was despite Wakiso being Uganda’s most populous district, with over 3.4 million residents today, as it continued to struggle to deliver essential health services to the public. The 2022/2023 Annual Health Sector Performance Report also flagged persistent challenges, including frequent transfers of facility in-charges, overstretched management structures, and weak internal communication and coordination.
It was this stark reality that informed the leadership and management intervention in Wakiso. Officiating the dissemination of the project outcomes, Dr. Sarah Byakika, Commissioner for Planning, Financing, and Policy at the Ministry of Health and a member of the National Oversight Mechanism for the programme, commended the remarkable progress made in just six months, citing visible improvements across the district as a direct result of the intervention.
“I have been involved with this programme right from its inception, and I’m proud that Uganda became one of its major beneficiaries,” Dr. Byakika said with gratitude, commending the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Makerere University, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals, Wakiso District and the development partners for supporting the initiative. She emphasised the value of this partnership in strengthening leadership and management competencies among Wakiso District health managers to address critical performance gaps in health service delivery.
“Wakiso is Uganda’s largest and most populous district, yet it has long underperformed on key health indices. Despite its semi-urban nature, it faces enormous health service delivery challenges, partly due to the overwhelming burden on its District Health Officer, who oversees more than 60 public and over 340 private health facilities. Many of these private facilities open and close frequently, complicating service oversight,” Dr. Byakika observed with concern.
Her sentiments were echoed by the District Health Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Mukisa, in a message delivered by Wakiso District Biostatistician, Mr. Frank Kakande. He noted that the project had contributed to a noticeable shift in the district’s health system performance, with visible improvements in leadership, communication, and accountability among facility in-charges beginning to translate into better overall health service delivery outcomes.
“You cannot talk about management without addressing performance: they go hand in hand. As someone who sits at the centre of district health data, I can confidently say that performance has improved. During the most recent national local government performance assessment, where I participated in the evaluation, Wakiso District’s health department ranked 18th out of 146 districts. That health ranking is a major achievement. We have consistently performed poorly in the past, but this time, we made significant progress,” Mr. Kakande told the attentive audience, speaking with an air of relief and satisfaction.
The Wakiso District Biostatistician credited part of this progress within the district, from the poor performance last year, to the leadership training and mentorship delivered through the project, citing visible improvements across key health indicators. He stressed the need to sustain this momentum through continued mentorship, internal capacity strengthening, and consistent application of the skills acquired by health managers, particularly in tackling persistent management challenges such as absenteeism, delegation, and accountability.
“Last week, I held a performance review at Kakiri Health Centre III, and the improvements were clear. These management skills are making a difference. You can see the change across indicators. But what matters now is sustainability. The support provided through supervision and mentorship was essential. But it’s up to us to keep the fire burning. We have learned a lot: communication skills, problem-solving, time management, and decision-making. Managers are now communicating better. Even issues like absenteeism are being addressed through proper reporting and action,” Mr. Kakande said.
Earlier, Dr. Musoke, presenting the overall project overview and success, explained that based on initial findings from the baseline and needs assessment, the team co-designed and delivered a structured six-month capacity-building programme targeting 60 health facility in-charges in Wakiso District. The programme blended in-person and virtual sessions, combining practical training with one-on-one mentorship, and included an exchange component between Uganda and the UK to promote international exposure and peer learning. This allowed the health managers to apply new skills to strengthen health outcomes in Wakiso.
“This project rightly focused on addressing gaps in leadership and management. I advocated for including this component in the programme, because our national health review missions consistently show that poor performance often stems from weak leadership and management,” Dr. Byakika affirmed, adding that: “I am pleased to see that nearly all public facilities in Wakiso participated. While the project had a short implementation window, the evaluation already shows encouraging results. Health managers feel more empowered, motivated, and aware of their roles. That’s a significant step.”
For her part, Dr. Sheba Gitta, Uganda Country Director for Global Health Partnerships, formerly Tropical Health and Education Trust, applauded the leadership and management capacity-building initiative in Wakiso as a timely, locally driven intervention. She underscored the value of two-way learning between Uganda and the UK health systems through the programme, noting that Global Health Partnerships works closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure all funded initiatives align with Uganda’s national development priorities.
“What excites me most is that this was not a pre-packaged programme imported from the UK. The training was co-created by partners, based on local realities and needs. That approach reflects strong collaboration between Makerere University School of Public Health and Nottingham Trent University. I thank Prof. Linda Gibson for her continued commitment and Dr. David Musoke for his proactive leadership in bringing this programme to life. Your consistency and quality of work continue to stand out,” Dr. Gitta shared.
While commending the progress made, she cautioned against “pilotism”, as a tendency for promising projects to end prematurely, calling for the model to be scaled up nationally. To support sustainability, she stressed the importance of documenting the training process, outcomes, and costs to inform ministry-level decision-making and long-term adoption.
Dr. Gitta joined Prof. Linda Gibson, the UK Lead for the Project, to encourage the trained managers to become champions of leadership within their facilities and districts, ensuring that the impact of the programme endures beyond its current cycle. She also thanked NHS England and the UK Government for their trust and investment in Uganda’s health system.
Health
Makerere-Incubated Safe Bangle Technologies Wins Prestigious World Summit Award for Innovation Against GBV
By Joseph Odoi
In a groundbreaking achievement, SafeBangle Technologies, an innovation incubated at Makerere University, has won the prestigious World Summit Award 2025 for its groundbreaking contribution to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in Africa. This remarkable honor comes in recognition of the development and implementation of a real-time domestic violence reporting bracelet.
The award was presented to the SafeBangle team that was represented by Saul Kabali, Messach Luminsa, and Janet Christine Nabaloga from SafeBangle Technologies at the WSA Global Congress in Hyderabad, India, where Uganda’s innovation potential was proudly showcased on a global stage.
The award was conferred in the Inclusion & Empowerment category for Safe Bangle’s cutting-edge solution; a wearable safety bracelet designed to address the pressing challenge of gender-based violence (GBV) across Africa.
The SafeBangle is a smartwatch-like, real-time domestic violence reporting bracelet that allows users to send SMS alerts via a single button press. Its core mission is to create a safer, more secure environment for women and children in Africa through innovative, affordable tech solutions.
According to Saul Kabali and Messach Luminsa, the innovators behind SafeBangle from SafeBangle Technologies, hosted at the Resilient African Network Lab. This award is very timely and a recognition that cements the importance of community rooted technology.
The team further stated that ‘’This award is a powerful affirmation of our mission and refuels our commitment to empowering Ugandan women and girls through innovation and technology. It influences our next steps by opening doors to new partnerships, increasing our credibility, and accelerating efforts to scale the SafeBangle nationally. We’re now more equipped to positively impact the daily lives of Ugandan women and girls through our SafeBangle bracelet.
To further the innovation, the team has called upon government to support the Safe Bangle Innovation
‘’Governments can support us by providing funding, facilitating policy support, and creating collaborative platforms for innovation. NGOs can help with grassroots outreach, and connect us to potential donors and funders interested in solving Sexual and Gender Based Violence amongst vulnerable communities; and tech partners can enhance scalability through infrastructure, data insights, and capacity building.
Moving forward, the team emphasized the importance of uniting innovation, partnership, and purpose to scale impact. “As we empower communities, invest in local solutions, and promote collaboration, we can transform how technology protects and uplifts women and girls across Uganda,” added the award-winning team.
The Story Behind the Safe Bangle Bracelet Innovation
According to the Safe Bangle innovators Saul Kabali and Messach Luminsa , ‘’The inspiration behind SafeBangle came from a deeply personal place. ‘’We heard countless stories of women who couldn’t call for help during moments of danger. We were deeply affected by the story of Aisha, a young woman in a rural village who was attacked while walking home alone at night. With no way to call for help, she felt helpless and vulnerable. This incident made us realize the critical need for immediate reporting alert tools, accessible to women like Aisha. We knew technology could play a crucial role and this incident awakened a strong desire in us to create a solution’’
To Makerere University School of Public Health’s Dr. Juliet Kiguli, who collaborated closely with the team during the rollout of the bracelet, this award is a vote of confidence in the work of Makerere University, whose core function focuses on teaching, learning, community engagement, research, and innovation, all contributing to the university’s efforts in addressing domestic violence.
‘’The award-winning innovation stems from the findings of a longitudinal study led by the Makerere University School of Public Health.
While carrying out a study after the Covid-19 Pandemic, we identified gaps when it comes to reporting and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) among women in informal settlements. Therefore, we used to incorporate the SafeBangle intervention to solve the problem of lack of affordable and immediate reporting mechanisms for violence using a bracelet that reports violence in real time
We’re excited about the progress so far, and with this recognition, we hope that more like-minded partners will join us to scale this initiative and ultimately help make the world a safer place for all.” Added Dr Kiguli of the Safe Bangle innovation potential
The research team, comprising Dr. Juliet Kiguli (Principal Investigator), Dr. Roy Mayega (Deputy Chief of Party, RAN), and Dr. Agnes Nyabigambo (Study Coordinator), piloted the bracelet under the PEER (Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research) program with support from USAID and the National Academies of Sciences.
A consortium of partners, including SafeBangle Technologies, Makerere School of Public Health/RAN , the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Somero Uganda, implemented the rollout of the Domestic Violence Real-Time Reporting Bracelet. The initiative was supported by USAID and the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. Key contributors to the project included Dr Juliet Kiguli Roy Mayega from Makerere University School of Public Health, Dr. Kelly Robbins, Dr. Lina Stankute-Alexander, Dr. Brent Wells, Dr. Melissa Trimble, and Uganda’s Dr. Gloria Kasozi at USAID. Wisconsin Madison Medical University’s Prof. Julia Dickson-Gomez was also a collaborator.
In terms of the acceptability of the SafeBangle innovation as a solution to GBV, the team has piloted the technology with more than 1,000 users, resulting in a 63% reduction in response times
During the event, SafeBangle Team participated in the “Equity by Design” panel, sharing insights on inclusive technology development with global experts including Dorothy Gordon, Abhishek Singh from India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT, Baroness Beeban Kidron, and representatives from UNESCO and WE Hub.
About SafeBangle Technologies
SafeBangle Technologies is a Ugandan social enterprise hosted at Resilient African Network Lab focused on addressing gender-based violence through innovative safety solutions. The company combines wearable technology with an interactive web platform to provide real-time reporting of violence and physical assaults, even in areas without internet connectivity. Founded in 2018, SafeBangle operates with a mission to make safety accessible and affordable for vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
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