Health

Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze explains how researchers can work more effectively with policymakers

Published

3 years ago

April 10, 2023

Mak Editor

Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze talks to the media. Photo taken by Davidson Ndyabahika on April 27th 2023 at Makerere University CTFII. Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze talks to the media. Photo taken by Davidson Ndyabahika on April 27th 2023 at Makerere University CTFII.

In advance of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting, we spoke with the Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health about how researchers and academics build trust and gain influence with decision makers

Ahead of this year’s World Health Summit Regional Meeting, we spoke with Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, the Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health, about the theme of this year’s event – bridging the science-to-policy gap for global health.

Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, who has collaborated with government health officials to develop evidence-based policies from HIV to COVID-19 and maternal and child health, said that researchers and policymakers can, among other things, “interpret the data together, make sure the interpretation is appropriate, and tease out the actions they’re going to take.”

Dr. Wanyenze, who is also a principal investigator for Exemplars in Global Health’s COVID-19 research, added: “Let the primary focus not just be the publication [of the research], but also, responding to [policymakers] needs and giving them information that they can use.”

Across sub-Saharan Africa, research institutions have been partnering with policymakers to help inform policy decisions for decades. For example, the Infectious Diseases Research Institute in Uganda and the Uganda Virus Research Institute supported the Ministry of Health through the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Ebola outbreak. In fact, during the 2022 Ebola epidemic, the Uganda Virus Research Institute repurposed some of its research laboratories to support the government’s disease response and diagnostics efforts.

Many of the continent’s universities, including the School of Public Health at the University of Kinshasa, the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania, the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, and the University of Zimbabwe, also have strong collaborative relationship with health officials. The University of Zimbabwe, for example, embeds some of its students within the country’s Ministry of Health.

The Makerere University School of Public Health has a similar track record of partnering with and helping inform policymakers in Uganda. To explore how researchers and academics can establish mutually beneficial relationships with policymakers ahead of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting on April 13 in Washington, D.C., Dr. Wanyenze offered her thoughts in an interview

Researchers often struggle to identify the best moment to reach out to policymakers. What does your experience tell you?

Dr. Wanyenze: You don’t wait until you’ve conceptualized the questions, then go to them when you are at the tail-end or when you are presenting the findings. After you present, they’ll ask, Did you also do this?’ And you’ll say, “No, I didn’t.’ And then they’ll ask, ‘Did you also do that?’ And you’ll say, ‘No, I didn’t do that either.’
Sometimes I find that we make a lot of assumptions about what they need to know. Before we even begin to craft our research questions, we need to understand what they’re struggling with and ensure that we are aligned to their needs as we gather evidence.

I’ll give you an example: several years ago, we were beginning to work out how we can move from traditional HIV testing methods to self-testing. We were working on designing a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of this. We had to speak with the Ministry of Health to understand: what is it that they worry about? What is it that would make them not want to adopt this policy?

We also didn’t have just the [Ugandan] Ministry of Health, we had other stakeholders, including people living with HIV, women living with HIV, and we could hear their voices loudly. ‘People will fight. We shall have divorces. We shall have violence.’ We had to think through carefully, if we are going to do this trial, we have to have sufficient mechanisms to deal with potential risks.

At the same time, we must collect this information in a bit more detail so that at the end of the day, we are not just saying, ‘This trial works,’ but we are saying, ‘It won’t cause harm, or if it causes harm, this is how you can mitigate it.’ We had to carefully do this trial with sufficient safety nets to respond to these issues. We had to think about the referral resources, for example, should we have any violence.

Then they told us, ‘We want to know the cost.’ Initially, we had not planned to include costing, but we had to integrate something that can support them to be able to make that decision.

Another example is research my team did on the impact of COVID on maintaining essential health services in Uganda. We presented to the Ministry of Health and its partners our proposed objectives and selected disease indicators to track in the maintenance of essential health services. They informed us that other partners were already working on some of the indicators such as HIV, TB, and maternal health. Rather than duplicate these indicators, they advised us to focus on other indicators which had not been addressed. We agreed to reorient the focus with the resources we had, to harmonize our work with other partners and ensure responsiveness to the needs of the Ministry of Health. Later, when the EHS continuity committee published updated guidelines on maintaining essential health services, it included recommendations based on our research.

How do you manage policymakers’ shifting needs and incorporate their feedback throughout the lifetime of your research?

Dr. Wanyenze: Interim feedback loops are critical to being sensitive to their needs. The challenge is you might not be funded to do everything they ask you to do, but sometimes you find things that are easy to integrate without necessarily spending much. It might involve a few more questions that you can address, with the resources that you have, and produce additional evidence that is needed by the ministry. The benefits are tremendous. By engaging them, they develop a sense of ownership. So that they feel, ‘This is our research.’ And they actually begin to say, ‘When are you giving us the results?’

How should researchers think about reporting out their results to policymakers?

Dr. Wanyenze: Working with policymakers through interpreting the implications of your work is really important. It can help when planning how to disseminate the work so that it is more meaningful.

For one project funded by the Global Fund – a partnership to enhance analytical capacity and data use in Eastern and Southern Africa called PERSuADE – we prioritized the areas for analysis with the Ministry of Health and then we worked with their teams and generated the evidence they needed. Then we were able to track what actions they’ve taken based on the findings.

If you work with the Ministry of Health and any other partners and you use their data or involve them in the data collection, analysis and interpretation, make sure that you include them as co-authors. A common challenge we have experienced is researchers who work with the ministries and other stakeholders publishing the findings without including them as authors or even informing them and sharing the findings.

How do things change if you are working with routine data the government collects?

Dr. Wanyenze: If you are working with data that the government routinely collects, you need to be engaged with policymakers in terms of how you’re going to use that data and that you are actually going to add value and do a good quality analysis that will help them answer their questions. Also, you need to be clear that you will not use their data for anything else without their permission. Sometimes researchers will get this data and they’re flying off and doing other things than what was originally agreed upon. And before you know it, they’ve published it without the government knowing. You need to ensure trust and a partnership that’s respectful.

What advice do you have for research organizations that currently do not have a relationship with the government but want to develop one. How can they establish a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship?

Dr. Wanyenze: Whether you want to work with a ministry of health or an NGO, the process is the same. You need to engage with them to clarify the partnership and expectations. There has to be benefit to the ministry or the NGO to want to work with you. The benefit often will be that you’re generating evidence that will add value to their decisions in a timely manner. You need to be responsive to their needs, to the extent possible.

How can researchers balance the need for quality research, which takes time, and the needs of policymakers, who often have pressing and time-sensitive needs.

Dr. Wanyenze: Timeliness is very important, but it should not compromise quality of the research. Sometimes the research takes long, and researchers will share their findings with policymakers when the findings have been overtaken by events and are no longer relevant. We sometimes prioritize some of their most critical questions and share preliminary findings as we finalize analyses for the rest of the study objectives and papers. Holding back the dissemination until the papers are written is a missed opportunity—we lose the opportunity for feedback from stakeholders to enhance the interpretation of the findings and to use the findings.

by Exemplars News — Originally published by exemplars.health

See original article here;

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Makerere Researchers Find Psychological Therapy Effective in Improving Diabetes Care in Uganda

Published

1 day ago

June 23, 2026

Mak Editor

Study participants join Principal Investigator Professor Peter Baguma, members of the research team and officials from the Ministry of Health's Department of Mental Health and Control of Substance Abuse for a group photo after the dissemination workshop on 16th June 2026. Physiology Lecture Theatre at the College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital Complex, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By Nelson Bahati}

Researchers from Makerere University‘s School of Psychology have found that psychotherapy intervention can improve the well-being of adults living with Type II diabetes mellitus, opening the door for integrating psychosocial support into diabetes care in Uganda.

The findings were disseminated on 16 June 2026 during a research dissemination workshop held at the Physiology Lecture Theatre at the College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital.

Led by Professor Peter Baguma, the study titled “The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Diabetes Distress, Depression, Health Anxiety, Quality of Life and Treatment Adherence among Adult Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus” investigated whether Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a psychological treatment that has proven effective in Western countries, could also work in the Ugandan context.

Presenting the findings, Professor Baguma said the study was motivated by the growing burden of diabetes and the psychological challenges that often accompany the disease but are rarely addressed in routine healthcare.

“Diabetes affects many people in Uganda and across the world. It kills, and those who live with it face many challenges. While psychological interventions have been developed and applied in the Western world, we did not know whether these approaches could work in Uganda. That is why we decided to undertake this study,” he said.

He explained that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy focuses on changing negative thoughts and behaviours that affect people’s wellbeing and ability to manage chronic illnesses.

The researchers sought to determine whether CBT could reduce psychological distress among diabetes patients and improve treatment outcomes.

The controlled study involved 200 adult participants with Type II diabetes mellitus. One hundred participants received the CBT intervention while another 100 formed the control group. Participants in the intervention arm attended eight counselling sessions over four months, with each session lasting between one and one-and-a-half hours.

The therapy covered several modules, including psychoeducation on diabetes, cognitive restructuring, medication adherence, problem-solving, coping strategies, physical exercise, relaxation techniques and strategies for maintaining treatment.

According to Professor Baguma, the findings showed that psychotherapy significantly improved participants’ wellbeing.

Professor Baguma Peter, the Principal Investigator presenting the study methodology and research design during the dissemination of findings. Physiology Lecture Theatre at the College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital Complex, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Professor Baguma Peter, the Principal Investigator presenting the study methodology and research design during the dissemination of findings.***

“The group that received the intervention experienced reduced stress levels and lower blood sugar levels compared to those who did not receive the therapy. We conclude that CBT is effective and should be adopted as part of diabetes care,” he said.

The study also yielded another important discovery.

“We have discovered that CBT as practised in the Western world is somewhat narrow. Their manual contains only eight elements. In Africa, we found that three additional components are necessary: effective communication between patients and health workers, goal setting, and instilling hope among patients. We call this African CBT,” Professor Baguma explained.

He added that the findings had also revealed the need to incorporate psychosocial care into the management of chronic illnesses and to train healthcare workers to address the psychological dimensions of disease.

Professor Andrew Marcel Otim, one of the co-investigators and founder of the Uganda Diabetes Association, said the study had brought to the fore an aspect of diabetes care that has long been neglected.

“There have been many efforts to address the physiological effects of diabetes, but we have largely ignored the psychological part of the disease. Yet the psychological aspect is huge,” he said.

He added that, diabetes management should go beyond medication but rather intergrate other components of care.

“Education, nutrition, exercise and self-monitoring are extremely important. Even simply knowing what to do is a very powerful intervention. Psychological distress and depression can increase blood sugar levels, so we need to help patients remain calm and hopeful,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as a clinician and educator, Professor Otim encouraged people living with diabetes to embrace physical activity.

“I tell my students and my patients to put on some music, dance, sweat and enjoy themselves. Nutrition, education and exercise remain central to managing diabetes.”

Dr. Wilber Karugahe, a counselling psychologist at Makerere University‘s School of Psychology and one of the co-investigators, said the findings demonstrate the need to integrate psychological care into the management of chronic diseases.

“A lot of studies focus on physical illness and not the psychological conditions that accompany these illnesses. This study confirms that diabetes has a significant psychological aspect and that patients need psychological interventions as part of their care,” he said.

Explaining the essence of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dr. Karugahe noted that the approach helps people restructure their thoughts and behaviours.

“Imagine putting a sticker on your fridge that reminds you that some foods are not good for you and that healthier options are better. That is CBT. It helps people change the way they think and behave, and it can be used to address many behavioural challenges.”

The dissemination workshop was also attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, including Mrs. Christine Ninsiima Ahimbisibwe, Senior Programme Officer for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Control, and Mrs. Patience Butesi from the Department of Mental Health and Drug and Substance Abuse.

Mrs. Ahimbisibwe welcomed the findings and emphasised the need to integrate the study’s recommendations into Uganda’s clinical guidelines to enable healthcare workers to provide psychosocial support to patients living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

The human impact of the intervention was perhaps best illustrated by testimonies from participants who underwent the psychosocial training.

Tebugulwa Josephine, a retired teacher and employee at Mulago National Referral Hospital, said the intervention restored hope in her life.

A study participant displays several diabetes medications as she narrates how the psychosocial intervention improved her ability to manage the condition. Physiology Lecture Theatre at the College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hospital Complex, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***A study participant displays several diabetes medications as she narrates how the psychosocial intervention improved her ability to manage the condition.***

“When we first joined the programme, we thought we were moving dead people. But now we have hope. I have hope of reaching 90 years. We were taught how to exercise and take care of ourselves. Even our families no longer treat us as sick people because we can now walk and participate in daily activities.”

Another participant, Bunje Joice, described the intervention as life-changing.

“People had already given up on me and were waiting for me to die. I could hardly walk, but now I can walk long distances and my diabetes levels have improved. Physical exercise has become my first medicine.”

Kyomuhendo Kate said the programme helped her manage stress and improve her health.

“I was so stressed and my legs were swelling, but after attending the treatment sessions, I am now much better.”

Sebuliba Bernard said the training transformed how he manages his condition.

“They taught us how to exercise, how to live and how to eat. If we follow what we were taught, we can change our lives.”

Based on the findings, the researchers recommended scaling up the intervention to district, regional and national referral hospitals, integrating psychosocial interventions into the training of health workers, and undertaking policy reforms to strengthen mental health support for people living with chronic illnesses.

The study was funded by the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) and brought together researchers from psychology and medicine, including co-investigators: Dr. Fredrick Nakwagala, Dr. Wilber Karugahe and Dr. Anne Ampaire.

Health

Call for Abstracts: USHS 25th Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Published

6 days ago

June 19, 2026

Mak Editor

Call for Abstracts: Uganda Society for Health Scientists (USHS) 25th Annual Scientific Conference 2026. Organised by Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Uganda Society for Health Scientists (USHS) invites researchers, academics, health professionals, students, policymakers, and development partners to submit abstracts for presentation at the 25^th Annual Scientific Conference of the Uganda Society for Health Scientists (USHS), scheduled to take place from 6^th–7^th August 2026.

Conference Theme

“Human-Centered Health Systems in Uganda: Leveraging Finance, Innovation, and Digital Technologies for Lasting Impact.”

Conference Sub-Themes

Abstracts are invited under, but not limited to, the following areas:

Malaria
Tuberculosis
HIV
Public Health and Policy
Data Science and Health Informatics
Mental Health and Well-being
Health Education and Capacity Building
Non-Communicable Diseases
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Emerging and Re-emerging Epidemics
Surgical Interventions
Biosafety and Biosecurity
Ethics
Laboratory Medicine
Vaccines
Health Financing

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Option A (Research Abstracts)

Background
Methods
Results
Conclusions

Option B (Programmatic/Implementation Abstracts)

Background/Context
Program Description
Lessons Learned
Recommendations

General Requirements

Abstracts must be submitted in English and in Microsoft Word format.
The abstract should not exceed 300 words.
Tables and graphs may be included where applicable.
Previously presented work at national or international meetings is eligible for submission.

Important Date

Abstract Submission Deadline: 23^rd June 2026

Submission

Please submit your abstracts via email to:
ushsecretariat@gmail.com
ushsugsociety@gmail.com

For further inquiries, contact the USHS Secretariat:

USHS Office, Makerere University College of Health Sciences
Department of Anatomy, 2^nd Floor, Room C14
Tel: +256 414 531820
Mobile: +256 772 629695

Makerere-CHS-Call-For-Abstracts-USHS-25th-Conference-6th-7thAug2026 Download

Health

College of Health Sciences Graduates First Cohort of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellows

Published

7 days ago

June 18, 2026

Betty Kyakuwa

The first cohort of fellows that graduated from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme (seated) with dignitaries on 17th June 2026. College of Health Sciences graduated the first cohort of fellows from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme, 17th June 2026, Main Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

L-R: Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Dr. Richard Mugahi and an official at the graduation. College of Health Sciences graduated the first cohort of fellows from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme, 17th June 2026, Main Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***L-R: Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Dr. Richard Mugahi and an official at the graduation.***

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.

Prof. Henry Alinaitwe. College of Health Sciences graduated the first cohort of fellows from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme, 17th June 2026, Main Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Prof. Henry Alinaitwe.***

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.

Dr. Irene Atuhaire. College of Health Sciences graduated the first cohort of fellows from the Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine Fellowship Programme, 17th June 2026, Main Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Dr. Irene Atuhaire.***

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.