An aerial view of the Makerere University School of Public Health construction site on the Main Campus. To the Right is the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) and in the background are Dag Hammaskjold Hall (Green roof) and University Hall (Brown tiles).
The Rockefeller Foundation, an American private philanthropy, donated US$100,000, which Makerere University will use towards the construction of a new School of Public Health (MakSPH) building in celebration of the University’s centenary this year.
Following a visit by The Rockefeller Foundation team and a tour of the MakSPH construction site located at Makerere University Main Campus, Mr. William Asiko, Vice President, Africa Region at The Rockefeller Foundation, announced the donation of US$100,000.
“As a Foundation, we are excited to re-engage with Makerere University and the School of Public Health. To that end, we are incredibly proud of the strides the School of Public Health has made since its inception. We look forward to continued collaboration with the School and the University at large,” said Mr. Asiko.
The Rockefeller Foundation has supported MakSPH for many years including its support for the construction of the current home of MakSPH 54 years ago and the establishment of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program 28 years ago, which was among the first MPH programs on the African continent.
On July 29, 2022, MakSPH received and hosted Andrew Sweet, Vice President, Global Covid-19 Response and Recovery at the Rockefeller Foundation and Wadzanayi Muchenje, the Strategic Partnership & Health Lead for The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office. #MakerereAt100
MakSPH appreciates The Rockefeller Foundation for its generous support of public health in Africa and continued partnership towards a healthier Africa.
Makerere University School of Public Health is one of the oldest and largest public health training institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past 15 years, the School has significantly increased student enrolment and staff numbers.
The School offers nine (9) Masters programs and PhD training and is a leading player in public health in the African region with several multi-country, multi-institutional research and capacity building initiatives.
To accommodate this growth, MakSPH has initiated construction of a new building on the Makerere University Main Campus with an estimated cost of US$10 million of the fully fitted building. The School has so far raised US$3.5 million from various fundraising drives.
“Given its location within a region prone to infectious disease outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic potential, this building will accommodate a Centre for disease outbreak prevention, preparedness and response research in addition to other Centres of Excellence. We are extremely grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation for their generosity. Your past financial support has been invaluable to the growth of public health in Uganda, in Africa and globally,” Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, Professor and Dean, MakSPH.
Side view of the Auditorium and the slab for the first floor of the MakSPH Main Building.
Dr. Lynn Atuyambe, an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Infrastructure Development Committee, MakSPH expresses gratitude to all its partners in Uganda and across the world for their unwavering support.
“We are deeply grateful for the support we have received thus far for the MakSPH building project, which has allowed us to make steady progress. We would like to extend a special thanks to our consultants CNS Inc., led by Arch. Nankya Collins Dolores; the Makerere University Estates and Works Department, and the Makerere University Administration, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. We would also like to recognize the hard work of the contractor, ROKO Construction Ltd., the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC), and the MakSPH staff for their personal contributions and encouragement. However, to complete the entire project, the School still needs to raise an additional $6 million, and we appeal to our supporters to continue their generous contributions,” says Prof. Lynn Atuyambe
About us
MakSPH is a leading public health training and research institution in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the schools under the College of Health Sciences, a constituent College of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. The School conducts research and provides consultation services to the Government of Uganda Ministry of Heath, various national and international health organizations, as well as bilateral and multilateral agencies involved in health. The School provides graduate, undergraduate and in-service training in public health. MakSPH’s major research and capacity building areas are: infectious and non-infectious diseases, sexual, reproductive, maternal and child health, environmental and sustainable health.
The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is excited to invite researchers, professionals, and students to be part of an inspiring and impactful event!
Venue: School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University Main Campus Dates: August 7–8, 2025 Theme: “Understanding the burden and impact of injuries in East Africa to improve Emergency Care preparedness, mitigation, and response.”
Submit Your Abstracts Now!
Join the conversation that drives change in trauma and emergency care across East Africa. Share your research, innovations, and insights that can shape the future of healthcare response in our region.
Impact of Food Supplementation on Health, Growth, and Development for Stunted Children
We are seeking to appoint a full-time PhD Fellow to conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) among 300 young children with stunting to assess the effect of Soy Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement with high versus low levels of antinutrients on growth and health of children on a DANIDA-supported project entitled “Climate-resilient soybean for improved growth and health of children in Uganda” (Healthy Soy). The PhD fellow will coordinate the RCT protocol development and its implementation, develop and nest his/her PhD protocol as part-of the RCT study. The PhD student will be hosted at the Child Health and Development Center School of Medicine College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. The PhD student will take part in literature review; designing, planning and conducting of studies; analysing results; writing reports and contributing to technical and policy briefs, journal articles and thesis; project management; organizing research seminars and stakeholder workshops; and guiding junior researchers and teaching. The PhD student will have access to online libraries, scientific databases and software for data analysis throughout their work. In addition, the student will be mentored by national and international researchers to develop scientific research and project management skills with three months stay in Denmark. By the end of the project, the selected candidate will have obtained significant competencies to explain the interactions between nutrition and health of children, growth and development. In addition, the student will gain skills in assessment of body composition, development and conduct of clinical trials design, scholarly writing and presentations, data analysis and interdisciplinary research.
Prospective candidates must:
Hold Masters in any of the following or equivalents: Human Nutrition, Dietetics, Public Health Nutrition, Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health, Public Health or
Epidemiology with undergraduate training in Medicine and Surgery (MBChB/MBBS/MD).
Having publication experience will be an added advantage.
Be highly motivated and interested in pursuing rigorous research
Be committed to a long-term research career in Human Nutrition and Health
Be of untainted integrity
Be able to use different software for data analysis and graphics.
Successful fellow will be expected to:
Conduct high quality research leading to publications in high-impact journals (must be ready to work towards publishing a minimum of one quality paper per year).
Contribute to research capacity building including training of undergraduate and M.Sc. students in the host department.
The project will avail financial support to the successful PhD Fellow for 4 years. Funds will cover: PhD tuition for 4 years; monthly stipend; research supplies and reagents; conference participation and other research-related costs.
Interested applicants should send an application letter, motivation statement, two recommendation letters, CV and academic transcripts and certificates for all university qualifications in an email titled “PhD Fellowship Application – Healthy Soy Project” to chdc.desk@mak.ac.ug by 26th June 20205.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.
At a ceremony held on 30th May 2025, themed ‘They taught us without saying a word’, the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) commemorated the silent teacher which are the cadavers (bodies) used in anatomy classes for medical students. In addition to a commemoration service, the event was used to create awareness and sensitise the public about the the importance of whole body donation.
The chief guest at the commemoration was Professor Mukadasi Buyinza, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic Affairs representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. The event attended by MakCHS students, staff and alumni was organised by students under Anatomy Society of MakCHS supported by Department of Anatomy and MakCHS leadership.
MakCHS Leadership and staff during service.
Welcoming guests to the event, Waziwu Mordecai–final year student of medicine and surgery who serves as President of the Anatomy Society, MakCHS explained that the reason for the gathering is three-pronged: to commemorate the silent teachers who make a profound contribution to medical education; to instill knowledge, compassion, and professionalism in future healthcare providers; and call on the community to support this noble act through awareness, advocacy, or future donation. ‘May the memory of our silent teachers live on in every life we will one day save’, he said.
The Anatomy society was founded in 2013 with aim of students providing peer mentorship to fellow students in lower years, such mentorship sessions help students appreciate better the anatomy of the human body. The society has supported:enhanced learning and mentorship; promoted academic participation including internal and external quizzes; and fostered connections including strengthen relationships between students across classes and with alumni.
HoD Anatomy Prof. Elisa Mwaka.
Professor Elisa Mwaka, Head – Department of Human Anatomy welcomed all present for attending the ceremony. He thanked the College management led by the Principal, Professor Bruce Kirenga for the support provided in organizing the ceremony. He also expressed utmost appreciation to the Vice Chancellor for attending despite the competing priorities requiring his attention.
Professor Mwaka highlighted that we are here today, to pay our respect to the individuals whose bodies have been used for medical examination and research at MakCHS through offering prayers as well as sensitize people about willful/consented whole body donation.
Service in session.
Professor Mwaka explained that globally, sources of whole bodies for medical education and research are got through willed whole-body donation, unclaimed bodies in hospitals, imported bodies, executed persons among other means. In Uganda, unclaimed bodies in hospitals are used for medical as determined by the Uganda National Rules in the Penal Code Act of 1957.
In 2012 International Federation of Anatomy Associations (IFAA) recommended voluntary donation as the desirable and the only acceptable source for acquiring bodies. Almost all Africa countries and some European countries lack national body donation programs.
Principal Prof. Bruce Kirenga.
Speaking at the event, Professor Bruce Kirenga, Principal – MakCHS thanked Professor Mwaka for the insightful presentation. He welcomed Professor Buyinza to MakCHS and for accepting to attend despite the late invitation. He recognized the presence of the staff present and support towards the college activities.
Professor Kirenga underlined the importance of biomedical science under which human anatomy falls in medical education. ‘Biomedical sciences play a key role, once someone in grounded in the area, then he will be a good doctor’, he said.
Students with Principal in black suit and Prof. Mwaka Erisa_HoD Anatomy first right.
The Principal also stressed that during his term of office operation efficiency will remain key ingredient for service delivery as well as rebuilding and rehabilitation of teaching and learning facilities. ‘Works to make the Biochemistry laboratory a model lab has commenced with a contract awarded to service provider; the refurbishment will be in phases’.
Professor Buyinza Mukadasi thanked the College, Human Anatomy department and the students for organizing the commemoration. ‘The amount of joy I have this morning, we should have done this a long time ago’, he said.
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi.
He expressed happiness at this commemoration for the silent teachers who unknowingly give so much to medical education and therefore mankind. He advised that community engagement to create awareness about the need for whole-body donation, regulatory compliance, and alignment to best practices.
He noted that disciplines like medicine is more like charity because medical practitioners give so much of themselves. ‘The number of people attending this ceremony is show of love for the discipline and commitment to the calling’ he said.
Candle lighting by Medical Students President.
Professor Buyinza reiterated the commitment of Makerere University management to support MakCHS endeavours including this culture of commemorating the silent teacher. ‘Well-trained and season doctors are a result of the process explained here and the absence of bodies affects the quality of education provided and therefore the doctors produced’, he added.
Candles for the cadavers were lit and services representative of Anglican, Catholics and Muslims were conducted to remember the souls of the departed and wish them a peaceful rest. Ordinand Cosmas Ddembe for Anglican, Father Valentine Amuneke for Catholic and Dr. Haruna Kiryowa for Muslim preached the importance of respect for the dead and sacrifices of the dead for advancement of research and education in the medical field and health services.
Giving closing remarks, Professor Mwaka noted that setting up whole-body donation programs in Africa requires a holistic approach involving education, cultural sensitivity, legal structures, and partnerships with medical institutions.
Reasons why Africa has failed to establish body donation programs:
Low awareness and willingness to donate bodies.
Cultural and traditional beliefs
Religious beliefs
Fear of mishanding bodies
Lack of legislation/ ambiguous regulations
Lack of institutional policies and standard operating procedures
Institutions should be encouraged to hold Services of thanksgiving or commemoration for those who have donated their bodies for medical education and research.
Students choir singing hymns.
The following is required to change the current status:
Cultural sensitivity and awareness
Community engagement and awareness creation
Educational campaigns
Developing legal and ethical frameworks
Building partnerships between hospitals and medical institutions
Establishing local body donation systems i.e.,
donation registration process,
consent documentation,
Logistical infrastructure necessary for the
donation process.
Effective communication, public trust,transparency.
Training and professional development of healthcare providers.
Global collaboration and funding: to share knowledge, best practices, and resources.
Government support
Funding and incentives
Inclusion of body donation in national health strategies.
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