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

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3 years ago

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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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WIN-WIN Call for Proposals: Wetland Restoration in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area

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September 30, 2026

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The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) Building, Mulago Hospital Complex. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), on behalf of the WIN-WIN in the Wetlands for Climate Resilience project, invites eligible organisations to submit proposals for selection as the Implementing Partner responsible for designing and delivering a community-based urban wetland restoration and sustainable livelihood intervention in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).

This is an open, competitive Call for Proposals (CfP). In line with good practice for evidence-generation projects, this CfP intentionally does not prescribe the restoration model, livelihood package, or implementation methodology. Applicants are instead invited to propose their own technically sound, innovative, and locally appropriate approach in response to the problem statement, objectives and outcomes set out in the attached Terms of Reference (ToR). The selection process will be conducted in two stages: (1) a short Concept Note stage, open to all eligible applicants, and (2) a Full Proposal stage, open only to organisations shortlisted at Concept Note stage.

Key details:

  • What: Selection of an Implementing Partner for Community-Based Urban Wetland Restoration and Sustainable Livelihood Development
  • Reference No.: MakSPH/WIN-WIN/CfP/2026/01
  • Who can apply: Registered NGOs/CSOs, CBOs/cooperatives, private firms or social enterprises, or consortia of these
  • Where: Urban and peri-urban wetland communities in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts (Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area)
  • Concept Note deadline: 16 October 2026, 5:00 PM (EAT)
  • Submission: winwinwetlands@musph.ac.ug, subject line “WIN-WIN CfP – [Applicant Organisation Name]”
  • Contact for questions: Ms. Winnie Kansiime, winniekansiime@musph.ac.ug, +256 783 640 210

See below for detailed call.

Makerere-SPH-WIN-WIN-Call-for-Proposals-TORDownload

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MakCHS Lecturer selected for Global Atlantic Fellowship to Advance Brain Health Equity

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2 weeks ago

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September 18, 2026

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Dr. Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria.

Dr. Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria, a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, has been selected for the prestigious 2026–27 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program.

Based at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the global fellowship brings together leaders across multiple disciplines to develop innovative, equitable solutions for brain health and dementia care worldwide. Dr. Gumikiriza-Onoria, who holds a PhD in Brain Health, is an accomplished academician and researcher whose expertise spans neuropsychology, mental health, cognitive functioning, behavioural science, and implementation research.

Uganda currently faces a rising prevalence of dementia, compounded by limited public awareness and a shortage of specialized care facilities. Dr. Gumikiriza-Onoria’s work directly addresses these challenges by focusing on dementia, HIV and aging, neuropsychology, and community-based interventions. Through her strategy of generating rigorous evidence and developing scalable interventions, she aims to enhance cognitive and mental health outcomes for older adults—particularly those aging with HIV—in sub-Saharan Africa.

As part of the 2026–27 cohort, Dr. Gumikiriza-Onoria joins 15 other incoming fellows at UCSF representing diverse fields including medicine, public health, advocacy, policy, and the arts. Together, they become part of a lifelong global network of more than 330 Atlantic Fellows spanning over 70 countries. Over the coming year, the fellows will collaborate across disciplines, hone their leadership skills, and design scalable approaches to reduce brain health inequities.

Through the fellowship, Dr. Gumikiriza-Onoria plans to establish key international partnerships to translate her research into practical, culturally relevant solutions. Her goal is to strengthen local brain health systems, support dementia caregivers, and improve healthy aging outcomes for vulnerable populations across Uganda and the broader African continent.

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Ministry of Health Launches National University Health Screening Initiative at Makerere 92nd Guild Medical Camp

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2 weeks ago

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September 17, 2026

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L-R: Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Prof. Richard Idro, and H.E. Kadondi Gracious present a plaque to Hon. Anifa Kawooya appreciating the Ministry of Health Support to the Medical Camp on 17th September 2026. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Despite a morning downpour, the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp successfully commenced on September 17, 2026 with a launch at the Freedom Square.

The Launch marks a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health and higher education institutions to advance physical well-being and awareness of students from public and private universities.

Presiding over the event, the Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Hon. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, launched the intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease.

Ministry officials emphasized that laboratory screening and diagnostic testing are critical entry points for early detection, linkage to care, appropriate clinical management, surveillance and prevention, and the Ministry of Health pledges full support to strengthen these services across universities nationwide.

A section of students that attended the Annual Medical Camp 2026. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
A section of students that attended the Annual Medical Camp 2026.

Held under stewardship of the Makerere University Dean of Students office, the camp offered a comprehensive suite of health services to the student body and the wider community. Attendees had access to the following services:

  1. General and Specialist Consultations
  2. Sickle Cell, Malaria RDT and HIV Screening
  3. Eye Care and Laboratory Diagnostics
  4. Free Essential Medicines
  5. Reproductive Health Counseling
  6. Mental Health Counseling

While addressing the attendees, Hon. Kawooya emphasised that health is synonymous with national economic productivity.

She guided the youth to prioritise well-being, and avoid living in denial for it is the first step to refusing help. This will help build a firm foundation for any future contributions to national development.

Hon. Anifa Kawooya accompanied by Guild Health Ministers from various institutions tours the exhibition. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Hon. Anifa Kawooya accompanied by Guild Health Ministers from various institutions tours the exhibition.

The Minister further warned students against risky behaviours, including substance abuse and sexual immorality, which she described as poisonous.

She advocated for responsible reproductive health practices, urging students to utilise resources available to protect themselves for the future.

Why you should Know Your Status

Prof. Charles Olaro, who is the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Uganda reflected on his time at the university during the peak of the HIV epidemic, recalling a visit from the late Bongole Lutaya.

He noted that today’s youth have not witnessed the severity of the AIDS due to the availability of care and ARVs, which can create a false sense of security.

“People are in care and you have not seen the real slim disease. You have not seen it”

Prof. Charles Olaro. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Charles Olaro.

He added that some attending are products of mothers that undertook prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and they gave birth to negative children. But now when we are grown up, they are reckless with their sexual life.

Prof Olaro summarized his remarks by noting that health is an irreplaceable asset and that decisions made today have significant future ramifications. They urge the audience to take the opportunity to know their status, whether for HIV or sickle cell disease, as this is the essential entry point for care and life planning.

Benefits of knowing your status:

  1. It serves as the entry point for receiving necessary care.
  2. It allows for better life planning.
  3. It enables individuals to manage other aspects of their lives effectively.
  4. It prevents future health complications.

Genetic Awareness and Blood Donation

Associate Professor Richard Idro the Deputy Principal of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) emphasised the importance of seeking appropriate information with a focus on genetic awareness. He advised the students to know their status before marriage to prevent passing on genetic conditions.

“One day when you fall in love, you know that preferably you should not marry somebody who is also carrying a certain gene.”

Prof. Richard Idro. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Richard Idro.

He then delved into the importance of treating HIV and clearing malaria parasites, which he addressed exhaustively.

From this, Dr Idro’s focus turned to blood donation where he acknowledged a number of people that had already participated in the exercise at the Uganda Red Cross Society tent.

“I see the Red Cross at one corner. As we passed there, 36 people had donated blood. Although, gentlemen, I saw very few of you donate blood.”

He concluded by challenging the young men present and reminding them that they can donate blood up to four times a year and still remain healthy.

Empowering Ambassadors of Global Health Awareness

The Ministry of Health called upon the students attending the camp to serve as ambassadors for global health awareness in their respective institutions.

The Executive Director/Commissioner National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), Dr. Susan Nabadda Ndidde advised the students to make sure that they mobilise and intensify testing for all these diseases.

Dr. Susan Nabadda Ndidde. Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Dr. Susan Nabadda Ndidde.

“We will work with you as a Ministry to provide the tests to make sure that we know your status and prevent these diseases in time.”

She wrapped up her message by thanking Makerere for allowing the Ministry of Health to partner on this cause and urged the students to embrace this opportunity and make sure they leave after establishing their status.

By bringing these critical services directly to campuses, the government fosters a healthier, and more informed generation capable of driving Uganda’s future development.

Students Appreciate the Medical Camp

According to Denise Kainomugisha, the Chairperson of the Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and Vice Minister of Health in the 92nd Guild, the Camp served as a vital platform for capacity building.

92nd Guild Health Minister Hon. Wamezaya Ebenezer (R) and his Vice Hon. Denis Kainomugisha (L). Launch of the two-day 92nd Makerere University Guild Annual Medical Camp and intensified testing and active case finding for Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Sickle Cell Disease in universities and tertiary institutions, 17th September 2026, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
92nd Guild Health Minister Hon. Wamezaya Ebenezer (R) and his Vice Hon. Denis Kainomugisha (L).

“The screening, the testing, the sports science, was all handled by the student volunteers under supervision” she confessed.

She also explained that the camp extended to broader public health goals and additionally fostered leadership and collaboration among students, who were encouraged to work together to address community health needs.

Concluding her remarks, Kainomugisha expressed gratitude to the respective partners for providing both financial support and the opportunity for students to take on active roles throughout the Medical Camp.

Elvis Lubanga, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
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