Health
Rising to the Top: Carol Nabbanja’s Journey to Becoming the Best Graduating Student from MakSPH
Carol Esther Nabbanja, 22, is set to graduate with First Class Honours in Bachelor of Environmental Health Science (BEHS) from the Makerere School of Public Health as the best-graduating student in the school this year. She graduates in Makerere University‘s 73rd Graduation ceremony today.
With a CGPA of 4.61, she has emerged as the best-graduating student in the MakSPH this year. She graduates alongside her other 43 classmates who made it to the graduation list this year.
Born in Kitemu village, Nsangi Parish, Wakiso District, to Samuel Mawejje, and Alice Naggawa, Nabbanja is the third born of four siblings and first to come to Makerere University, the very first to be on a government scholarship, and the very first to go through Kings College Budo.
Right from her childhood, Nabbanja has always been passionate about health and clean environments, which started from her early years as a head monitor at a government-aided St. Charles Primary School, where she did her nursery to primary five and the sanitation prefect at Clevers Origin Junior School.
While at St. Charles, Naggawa, Nabbanja’s mother was not convinced that she would make a foundation for a great future. She wanted better for her daughter. Nestled in the bustling streets of Kitintale, lies Clevers Origin Junior School, a beacon of hope for many students in the area. For Naggawa, her daughter’s joining the school would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
She approached the owner of the school, Christopher Mugwanya, who happened to be her brother. Despite being a private school, Mugwanya, a kind-hearted and supportive uncle, offered the Nabbanja a half-bursary based on academic merit and family relationship. “I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to start his new journey at Clevers Origin,” says Nabbanja.
Settling into her new school, Nabbanja encountered some challenges in mathematics, but her uncle was there to help. “I had some challenges in math, but he ably supported me, he gave me food, visited me when my mother couldn’t make it, and sometimes I would stay at his place over the holidays. He was really supportive. I was able to overcome my difficulties in math and excel in my studies. In fact, my grades improved and I found a newfound passion for learning. I am grateful for the support from my uncle and I feel proud of my academic achievements so far.”
Because of her unwavering determination and hard work, the School was convinced that she would sit her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in Primary Six.
“I did PLE in P.6. The centre I registered at was in Nateete and I was the only first grade there but I didn’t want those results. I decided to wait for my actual time, and when it came, I excelled. I got aggregate 5,” says Nabbanja.
She was the best-performing female academician in her cohort. This was a significant achievement, as her cohort had the best grades since the school was founded. “I was also awarded the best female academician during my time at the school. I, in fact still have the certificate. I have also always been pertinent about health, and so I took up positions like the Sanitation Prefect,” says Nabbanja.
Nabbanja also had a passion for cleanliness and health. As the Sanitation Prefect, she made sure that the school environment was clean and hygienic at all times, something that was important to her from a young age. “I always loved a clean environment and to have everything in its place, so my interest developed that early.”
Joining Kings College Budo
Given her outstanding performance, Nabbanja was offered several scholarships to join Secondary School. “I was the very first from that Clevers Origin Junior School to ever go to Kings College Budo—we were two students that performed well, a boy who got 4 and me who got 5 and joined Budo on merit. My parents were offered other offers of schools giving me scholarships but Budo was exceptional. We had to make a decision that would set for me a good standard.”
Her journey to Makerere School of Public Health was paved at Budo. She was initially worried about School fees and how her father, a taxi driver would raise money to support her education.
“On joining my S.1, my parents were worried about the high fees, and the fact that I had studied on bursaries up to this point, they were not financially ready. We were paying about Shs1.4M. My mother talked to the Deputy Head Teacher, Rebecca Kiwanuka, who told her to let me join and that things would work out in the long run. Fortunately, my parents paid fees for S. 1,” says Nabbanja.
Unsure of how the second term would go, by sheer luck, Ligomarc Advocates, a financial and corporate law firm located at Social Security House in Kampala was celebrating 10 years and the partners decided to go back to their high schools and support students who were having financial issues
“By God’s grace, after the meeting between the School administration and the law firm, Mrs. Kiwanuka, our deputy head teacher informed me that I had gotten a sponsor,” Nabbanja says.
Ligomarc Advocates did not only sponsor her education but also provided opportunities for her to work with them during school breaks.
“Ligomarc took me for the 6 years I was at Budo. They were not just sponsors but also supporters, they supported me financially, came for V.Ds [Visitation Days], and also gave me an opportunity to work with them as an office attendant during my vacations. I also assisted the administration, delivering letters here and there. They supported me beyond just academics,” she says.
Budo was a turning point in Nabbanja’s life. It exposed her to new experiences and taught her valuable life lessons that have stayed with her to this day. She thrived in her studies, maintaining an average of 94 and earning 10 out of 8 aggregates in S.4 and 16 out of 20 in S.6.
Nabbanja never lost sight of her goals and was motivated by quotes from her late headmaster, Mr. Patrick Bakamale, such as “In this era of information and technology, we need to have the power of selection,” and “Focus on roots not fruits.”
Shaping her dream
Growing up, Nabbanja had always been fascinated by journalists, with the thrill of being on TV. “I used to hear that they earn 1 million, so that excited me.” However, it was her frequent trips to the dentist that truly sparked her interest in the field of dentistry. As she watched the dentists work their magic, Nabbanja was drawn to their ability to improve people’s dental health and change their lives for the better. “As a child I had so many dental issues, even at home. When I would visit the dentist, I would see a guy in a coat, doing some good work so I realized he doesn’t even work the night shift and it made me want to become a dentist,” she added.
Despite being tempted to pursue a career in law due to the time she spent at Ligomarc Advocates, Nabbanja held firm to her dream of attending medical school and becoming a dentist. She was determined to help her siblings, and others, achieve the confident smile they deserved.
However, her dream course, Dental Surgery, eluded her by just one point. Instead, she was given the opportunity to study Environmental Health Science, a subject that would soon become her passion.
“I didn’t know much about MakSPH, actually my first few days were not that pleasant. I kept thinking about my friends who were doing my dream course even though they were on private not government sponsorship, but my mother didn’t have the money,” she says.
Ruth Mubeezi Neebye, an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health would later become Nabbanja’s mentor. According to Nabbanja, she has equally been inspired by Dr. Esther Buregyeya and Dr. David Musoke.
Throughout her time at MakSPH, Nabbanja has consistently stood out as a top performer, earning high grades and impressing her professors and peers alike. Despite her impressive academic record, she remains humble and grateful for the support she has received from her family, friends, and sponsors along the way.
Nabbanja, a sports personality
As a student at Makerere School of Public Health, Nabbanja was a standout in both academics and sports. She fell in love with swimming. As a member of the Makerere University swim team, Nabbanja excelled in competitions and brought home medals for the university. She found solace in the sport, using it as a way to relax after long days of lectures and studying. Swimming also provided her with the opportunity to travel and make new friends, as well as to work on her physical and mental health.
“Swimming gives you a lot of opportunities, so that inspired me as well. Very many people travel on University tickets, and since I love outdoor life and traveling, I looked at this as an opportunity. Swimming teaches you to read, and do other things like jogging before joining the pool. It is also an individual sport because when you don’t swim for a month, your time is cut,” says Nabbanja.
Journeying to First Class
For some students, University education is just a three-four-year period of attending lectures and socializing with peers. But for others, it’s a stepping stone to a brighter future. And that’s exactly what happened to Nabbanja, the best-graduating student from Makerere School of Public Health (MakSPH). She has not only excelled in academics but was also a talented swimmer who represented the University in various competitions.
Nabbanja’s success journey started with a clear plan and a strong determination to succeed. She believed that becoming a first-class student was not only about attending lectures but also about being self-aware and taking control of one’s own learning process. Nabbanja made a habit of reflecting on what was learned each day and relating it to real-life situations.
When asked about her experience at MakSPH, Nabbanja had nothing but praise for the staff and their professionalism. She says she never encountered any corrupt practices and appreciated the well-defined structure that made it easy to know where to go for assistance. Marks were received on time and she never felt lost or unsure of what to do next.
“The staff is also supportive, right from the reception, everyone is helpful—when inquiring about offices, or office protocol. We also get our marks on time, usually a week into the new semester. The service delivery is good and we are not tossed around.”
Nabbanja’s journey serves as a testament to the power of hard work, determination, and support from family and sponsors.
By Davidson Ndyabahika and Samantha Agasha
Makerere University’s School of Public Health (MakSPH) showcased research, training and international partnerships supported through European Union funding during the EU Uganda Research and Study Fair 2026 held at Makerere University.
The fair brought together students, researchers, academics, government representatives and development partners to explore opportunities in education, research, innovation and international collaboration, while celebrating 50 years of partnership between Uganda and the European Union.
Through its exhibition, MakSPH highlighted research and capacity building initiatives addressing public health challenges including infectious diseases, non communicable diseases, health systems, climate change and pandemic preparedness.
18 EU funded projects supported at MakSPH
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean of Students, School of Public Health, said the School has benefited from 18 EU funded projects over the past five years, supporting research and training across several areas of public health.
She said the projects have contributed to the training of PhD researchers and the development of research addressing infectious diseases and prevention, non communicable diseases, health systems, climate change and health.
Prof. Wanyenze also highlighted a new five year programme which started in 2021 that is aiming at strengthening capacity for research on pandemic preparedness and response, including outbreaks such as Ebola.
Another programme being undertaken with the Ministry of Health and Karolinska Institute focuses on improving maternal health while also addressing adolescent pregnancy and the health of mothers and children.
She described partnerships as critical to advancing science and innovation, noting that collaboration allows researchers in Africa and Europe to share knowledge and strengthen the impact of research on communities.
Research partnerships strengthen innovation
Prof. Robert Wamala, Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships at Makerere University, said the exhibition provided an opportunity to showcase EU funded projects across the University.
He noted that the School of Public Health alone has more than 18 such projects, while other colleges also have several EU supported initiatives.
One of the projects showcased was PREPARE TID, a partnership aimed at developing rapid diagnostic technologies for emerging and re emerging infectious diseases.
Prof. Julius Okuni, Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology and Molecular Diagnostics at Makerere University, said the project brings together universities, industries and other organisations from Africa and Europe.
The project is working to develop technologies that can quickly identify pathogens responsible for outbreaks such as Ebola, Rift Valley fever and Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever.
According to Prof. Okuni, Makerere is involved in field and laboratory work to test and refine the technologies before they can be delivered to end users.
Fair provides platform for research visibility
For researchers at MakSPH, the fair also provided an opportunity to increase the visibility of ongoing research and create new connections with researchers, policymakers and potential funders.
Dr. Raymond Tweheyo, Honorary Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, said such exhibitions allow researchers to share their work and identify others working on related challenges.
He cited the CONNECT for Health project, which focuses on transforming non-communicable disease care in Uganda through collaboration with partners across several countries.
Dr. Tweheyo said exhibitions can help researchers connect with policymakers, civil society organisations and other partners who can contribute to translating research into practical solutions.
Assoc. Prof. Angelina Kakooza Mwesigye, Associate Professor and Child Neurologist at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, also emphasised the importance of exposing young people to international research opportunities.
She said the long standing Uganda Europe partnership provides opportunities for the next generation of researchers to learn, build networks and prepare for future research collaborations.
The School of Public Health’s participation highlighted the role of international partnerships in strengthening research capacity, supporting innovation and developing evidence based responses to Uganda’s public health challenges.
Uganda has strengthened its ability to respond rapidly to Ebola and Marburg outbreaks once cases are confirmed, but delays in frontline detection, health worker exposure, emergency financing bottlenecks and incomplete implementation of lessons from previous outbreaks continue to undermine preparedness, a study has found.
The findings were presented today, October 6, 2026, during a country validation workshop convened by the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EPiC) project, to examine lessons from Uganda’s response to filovirus disease outbreaks. The study was undertaken by Makerere University School of Public Health and FHI 360.
Presented by Dr. Steven Kabwama, the synthesis examined Uganda’s experience with recurrent Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks between 2000 and 2026, drawing particularly on After-Action Reviews from the 2017 Marburg outbreak and the 2019, 2022 and 2025 Ebola outbreaks. The work seeks to consolidate recurring strengths, weaknesses, innovations and lessons that had previously been documented separately.
Uganda has recorded 12 filovirus outbreaks over the 26-year period, including nine Ebola and three Marburg outbreaks, according to the research team. Among the four outbreaks examined closely were the 2017 Marburg outbreak in Kween and Kapchorwa, the cross-border Ebola outbreak in Kasese in 2019, the multi-district Sudan Ebola virus outbreak in 2022, and the 2025 outbreak whose index case was a health worker.
Strong systems after confirmation
Across the outbreaks reviewed, the synthesis found that Uganda has developed significant capacity to mobilise after laboratory confirmation. National and district task forces and technical response structures are activated quickly, supported by strong laboratory capacity, established coordination mechanisms and increasingly sophisticated surveillance systems.
The country has also built laboratory capacity around the Uganda Virus Research Institute, mobile laboratories, genomic sequencing, sample referral systems and the Results Dispatch System. Digital surveillance tools, Village Health Teams, survivor champions and established national and district coordination structures have further strengthened response capacity.
Detection remains a weak point
However, the findings point to a critical problem before confirmation: recognising a possible outbreak early enough.
For outbreaks originating within Uganda, the synthesis found that the period between a patient’s first presentation and confirmation ranged from nine to 27 days. This the study found is linked to low clinical suspicion and weaknesses in screening. Other recurring challenges included delayed access to emergency financing, infections among health workers, disruptions to essential health services, community mistrust and stigma, and limited follow-through on recommendations from previous After-Action Reviews.
Opening the workshop, the Dean, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, said understanding these delays requires going beyond identifying broad weaknesses to examining where response systems fail in practice.
“We can identify a broad challenge such as delayed detection from the literature, but your experience on the ground can help us understand the specific factors that create that challenge,” Prof. Wanyenze said while addressing district health officials from across the country.
“When we begin looking for solutions, we need to be able to target the actual problems rather than simply identifying broad challenges.”
The workshop brought together partners and colleagues from districts, including people directly involved in outbreak response, to validate the synthesis against frontline experience. Prof. Wanyenze noted that published literature, scientific papers and response reports cannot capture every operational reality, making practitioner experience essential to understanding where delays occur and what interventions have worked. Remarks validation workshop
Turning outbreak experience into continuous readiness
Among the priority actions proposed are stronger screening and alert systems for earlier detection; ring-fenced emergency financing and more reliable responder payment systems; routine infection prevention and control training; stronger occupational protection for health workers; continued investment in laboratories and genomic sequencing; and preparedness extending beyond districts traditionally considered outbreak hotspots. The study also recommends stronger community engagement and a formal mechanism to track and finance implementation of recommendations from After-Action Reviews.
Dr. Andrew Acero, Director of the EPiC project at FHI 360’s Uganda Office said the central challenge is ensuring that experience accumulated during successive outbreaks translates into lasting institutional capacity.
“The real value lies in ensuring that what we learn changes what we do. Our findings should inform policy, shape guidelines and training, strengthen systems and ultimately improve practice.”
He noted that preparedness cannot begin only after an emergency has been declared, but must be built through sustained relationships, systems and capacity before outbreaks occur. Remarks validation workshop
The EPiC project is led by FHI 360 with core partners including Right to Care, Palladium and Population Services International.
Uganda’s latest national HIV survey reveals lower viral suppression among adolescents and young adults living with HIV than among older adults, even as the country records substantial improvements in controlling the virus. The findings come from Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA 2025), a national household survey examining HIV prevalence and whether people living with the virus know their status, receive treatment, and achieve viral suppression.
Releasing the preliminary UPHIA 2025 findings at the Uganda Media Centre on 1 October 2026, Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi called for earlier prevention and testing, particularly among adolescent girls and young women, alongside support for treatment adherence. “We must reach out to the young people, ensure that they have information, they test, take treatment, and adhere to the treatment guidance,” he urged.
Hon. Baryomunsi recalled how fear had discouraged testing during his university years: “I remember when we were at university, we went for testing at the university hospital. We sat there for three hours. Some of us left without even testing because it was scary.” Today, he explained, “even if you test HIV positive, you can be initiated on treatment, and you live normally like the rest of those who don’t have HIV.”
UPHIA 2025 was locally led under the Ministry of Health’s overall leadership, with Makerere University School of Public Health serving as the prime implementer, a role ICAP at Columbia University held in the previous two surveys. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics led sampling, while the Uganda Virus Research Institute and National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services led laboratory operations. Regional referral hospitals and local governments supported implementation, and the U.S. government provided US$10 million through PEPFAR, along with technical assistance from the U.S. CDC.
UPHIA collected data from July to September 2025 among people aged 15 and above, including those outside routine treatment services. Of 6,283 eligible households, 94.4% completed interviews. Researchers interviewed 13,801 people and tested 13,477 for HIV.
Testing followed Uganda’s national algorithm, with laboratory confirmation of positive samples, viral-load measurement, and checks for antiretroviral medicines to establish treatment use. Researchers weighted the estimates to account for the sampling design. Participants received counselling and results, and those who tested positive were referred for treatment.
Hon. Baryomunsi thanked participants and their families for welcoming survey staff and contributing their time, information and samples, without which the national evidence would not have been available.
National progress and the youth gap
The survey estimated HIV prevalence, which means the proportion of people living with HIV, at 5.9% among those aged 15 and above, corresponding to about 1.496 million people in this age group nationwide. Prevalence was 7.3% among women and 4.1% among men, ranging from 1.3% in Karamoja to 8% in the South Western region.
Among people aged 15 and above living with HIV, 86% had achieved viral suppression, meaning a low amount of HIV in the blood, measured in UPHIA as fewer than 1,000 copies per millilitre. Suppression stood at 69.3% among adolescents and young adults aged 15–24 living with HIV, compared with 89.9% among those aged 50 and above. These estimates cover people living with HIV regardless of whether they know their status or receive treatment.
HIV prevalence among people aged 15–24 was 1.5%, including 2% among young women and 1% among young men. Among young women, prevalence was 1.3% at ages 15–19 and 2.8% at ages 20–24. These differences support attention to earlier prevention and testing, although they do not establish when infections occurred.
The highest prevalence estimates occurred among middle-aged adults: 15.7% among women aged 40–44 and 11.7% among men aged 45–49. Lower suppression among young people therefore requires attention alongside the higher HIV prevalence among middle-aged adults. Comparing the same age group across both surveys, viral suppression among people aged 15–64 increased from 74.9% in 2020–21 to 86.1% in 2025, while HIV prevalence remained at 5.9%.
Diagnosis and the path to 2030
The treatment results identify diagnosis as the main national gap. Among people aged 15 and above living with HIV, 85.3% knew their status. Of those aware, 99.1% were receiving treatment; among those receiving treatment, 96.5% had achieved suppression.
The 95-95-95 targets aimed for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive treatment, and 95% of those receiving treatment to achieve viral suppression by 2025. Among people aged 15 and above, Uganda exceeded the treatment and suppression targets, while diagnosis remained below target. UNAIDS’s Global AIDS Strategy 2026–2031 retains these targets towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
According to WHO, viral suppression protects health and helps prevent HIV transmission. Uncontrolled HIV weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of serious illness. With continued treatment as prescribed, sexual transmission risk is negligible when HIV remains suppressed but detectable, and zero when undetectable. The Uganda AIDS Commission estimated over 34,000 new HIV infections in 2025, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and sustained suppression alongside other prevention measures.
The demographic stakes are substantial. People aged 15–24 constituted 21.2% of Uganda’s population in the 2024 census. The country’s Fourth National Development Plan, covering 2025–2030, prioritises a healthy, knowledgeable, skilled and productive population and reducing HIV through primary health care. Protecting young people’s health, therefore, supports their participation in education, work, and national development; UPHIA helps identify where services need greater attention.
Turning evidence into action
The study’s conclusions identify three priorities: sustain treatment outcomes, find people unaware of their status, and improve suppression among younger people. Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine connected the findings to the Ministry’s planning.
“We do believe that these results are a true reflection of what is happening in our country as far as the HIV status is concerned, and we do believe that it will give us a very clear direction and the roadmap that we are going to take in the next five years to target and to get our targets achieved.”
Acting on these priorities requires funding for services and research. Hon. Baryomunsi outlined plans to target resources where needs are greatest, strengthen district services and align partner support with government priorities. Responding to journalists’ questions, he noted the government’s intention to increase domestic funding for the HIV response, including research.
“The HIV/AIDS response, including research and surveys such as this one, has largely been funded by partners in the past. The government of Uganda is committed to allocating more resources from our domestic budget to support the response and research,” he noted.
For the first time in the UPHIA series, the survey assessed selected noncommunicable disease indicators among people aged 15 and above: 15.5% had elevated blood pressure, 24.8% were overweight or obese, and 0.9% had raised random blood glucose. These screening findings align with the Ministry’s integration agenda and Hon. Baryomunsi’s call to bring HIV and chronic care services together to address people’s wider health needs.
Speaking at the release of the preliminary results, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Mikael (Mika) Cleverley described UPHIA 2025 as the first Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment worldwide fully led and implemented by the country itself.
“The study was led by Ugandan scientists, Ugandan managers, Ugandan public servants, Ugandan field teams, from design to data collection to analysis. And this is what two decades of focused strategic U.S. foreign investments in the public health sector was meant to produce, is to reinforce Ugandan leadership and Ugandan-led efforts.”
At the survey launch on 29 May 2025, MakSPH Dean Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze highlighted the partnership’s contribution: “The partnership between Makerere University and CDC has not only helped build national capacity in surveillance and epidemiology, but has also strengthened our ability to lead high-quality, large-scale national surveys.”
The Dean added: “After two decades of joint work, we are proud that UPHIA is now a fully Ugandan-led effort. This is critical to the sustainability of the skills and knowledge generation to inform our local response.”
UPHIA 2025 shows how far Uganda’s HIV response has advanced and where gaps remain. As the country works towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, reaching young people with testing, treatment, and continued care will be essential to extending those gains.
Read the full UPHIA 2025 summary results here:
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