Health
Hearing Clinic Launched at Makerere University Hospital
A Hearing Clinic and Temporal Bone Laboratory were launched on 15th August 2023 at the Makerere University Hospital (MakHosp). The clinic and laboratory are operated by the Department of Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT), Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS). The clinic which is the first to be established in a Public Hospital will manage persons with hearing impairments as well as support research in Uganda.
The Principal Investigator for the project Dr. Christopher Ndoleriire who also heads the Department of ENT at MakCHS thanked the partners who have supported the project since inception. These included Makerere Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF), Austrian Development Agency, MED-EL, Professor Tom Roland Jr (NYU), Rotary Club of Kololo; and Hear His Voice Uganda.
He said, ‘all age groups can have hearing impairment (HI) however Children with HI face many challenges such as barriers in communication, discrimination, child labour, violence, etc. The challenges of HI do not enable these children to grow to their full potential. Thus their rights to education, health, interaction and play are hindered. This is due to the lack of knowledge and skills on how to screen and manage HI in these children. Therefore, there is a great need to screen, manage and empower children with HI so as to thrive through life.
The cost of not identifying and managing hearing impairment in children at an early age is very high both to the parents and to the government. It`s against this background that a research project linking four main hospitals to asses hearing impairment among children (0-59months) in Uganda was conceived and started.
The clinic which opened in October 2022 provides hearing screening and hearing diagnostic services to the University and community at large. It also conducts and coordinates hearing impairment research in a bid to create a database for hearing loss burden in Uganda. The clinic oversees hearing screening services in other 4 main hospitals namely; Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
To-date, over 1,000 children have been screened since April 2023 at the collaborating hospitals, 16 have visited Makerere University Hospital; 795 at Kawempe Hospital; 780 Masaka Regional Referral Hospital; 180 at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital; and 240 at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. All the patient data at the hospitals is interlinked and stored in a central system at MakHosp for tracking and follow-up of referred cases.
In addition, a temporal bone dissection laboratory has been set up to help train graduate ENT students in surgical management of ear disease and hearing impairment. This facility at MakHosp is open to other ENT professionals to continually improve their skills at a reasonable fee.
Professor Josaphat Byamugisha, Director-MakHosp explained that the clinic was opened in memory of Dr. Irwin Stewart from Canada who spearheaded improvement of hearing health in Africa, particularly Uganda. He recommended that babies` hearing should be checked within the first month of life to treat any defects early.
Professor Byamugisha thanked Makerere University management and the Ministry of Health for the support. He requested government to employ Audiologists, more speech and language therapists. Professor also added, ‘it is good to celebrate our successes; MakHosp is expanding and the addition of the hearing clinic is one of the new developments’. He advised that feedback from members that visit the hospital is welcome to inform future developments.
Alex Muhwezi, the president, Rotary Club-Kololo congratulated Makerere University, MakHosp and MakCHS on the launch of the hearing clinic. He thanked the partners for the contributions made to realise the milestone. He added, ‘I am proud of the contribution by Rotary to launch the facility. The clinic has opportunity to be a regional centre of excellence. Rotary contributed $150,000 towards renovation of the hearing clinic, installation of equipment in the temporal bone laboratory, training of specialists as well as outreach services.
Professor Annettee Nakimuli, Dean – School of Medicine, MakCHS represented the Principal, Professor Damalie Nakanjako and Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. In her remarks, the Dean said ‘the Vice Chancellor and Principal send congratulations to MakHosp and partners on the new development’
Professor Nakimuli noted, ‘many partnerships don’t bear fruit and opening the hearing clinic is an opportunity for all partners here to pat yourselves on the back for the achievement, expressing that as a school we are proud of the ENT department for this milestone’. Teaching, learning, research and community service are a mandate of the university and following celebration of 100years of Makerere University, partnerships are a key feature as we embark on the next 100, she added.
‘For a long time, universities were ivory towers, but we must go to the communities to help solve challenges. Communities don’t only want a healthy life but also achieve their full potential’. The dean also commended the ENT department for getting good friends, noting that Uganda has about 60 specialists in this area and more are needed.
The Director-Public Health at MoH, Dr. Dan Kyabainze, represented the Director General, MoH. He emphasised that government appreciates support from the various partners. He congratulated Makerere University, MakHosp on the developments and pledged government support to the hearing clinic.
A Voice for Excellence, Equity and African Sovereignty
When Dr. Michael Makanga walked onto the stage at the 8th Galien Forum Africa in Dakar on 31 October 2025 to receive the Special Career Achievement Galien Prize, presented by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye under the theme Health sovereignty: an imperative for Africa, the moment carried weight beyond any medal or citation. “It is a celebration of a lifelong commitment,” he said, “but also a reminder of a responsibility I have never been willing to compromise: to inspire others to raise their voices for excellence, science, and equity.”
For more than two decades, Dr. Makanga has been a quiet architect of Africa’s health sovereignty. His work has unfolded far from cameras: in laboratories constrained by resources, in policy rooms where African priorities demanded a stronger voice, and in mentoring sessions with young scientists seeking reassurance that their ideas mattered.
Born and trained in Uganda, Dr. Makanga earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University before pursuing a master’s degree and PhD at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. His career spans nearly 30 years, encompassing tropical medicine, clinical trials in Africa and Europe, and senior international management roles. Since joining EDCTP in 2004, he has guided its growth as a unique Africa–Europe partnership, strengthening African capacity for high-quality, ethical clinical research while accelerating solutions for poverty-related diseases. Today, he leads the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.
President Faye captured the essence of Dr. Makanga’s achievement: “Scientific excellence is not negotiable; it is earned. It underpins our credibility and our sovereignty.” For Dr. Makanga, the statement is a call to action. “I hope this recognition reminds us that Africa’s scientists and innovators can lead global health research with excellence and purpose. We owe it to the next generation to build the systems and confidence that make this possible,” he said.
Dr. Makanga’s peers describe him as a “builder”: someone who strengthens research systems, mentors emerging scientists, and fosters equitable partnerships long before “local ownership” became a policy buzzword. In his own words, the award honors his “career’s contribution to advancing Africa’s health sovereignty” while reinforcing his commitment to ensure younger scientists do not have to fight for legitimacy as previous generations did.
The 2025 Prix Galien Africa celebrated Dr. Makanga alongside innovators reshaping African science. La Ruche Health, a Côte d’Ivoire-based digital health platform, won for connecting users to certified providers through an AI-powered system. Senegalese computer scientist Adji Bousso Dieng received a special prize for applying artificial intelligence to the natural sciences, including spotting emerging viral variants using her “Vendi Score” tool. The awards were organised with the support of the Presidency of Senegal, the Gates Foundation, the West African Health Organization, and the Rockefeller Foundation, with a jury co-chaired by Dr. John Nkengasong and Professor Souleymane Mboup.
Yet the award’s true weight lies not in ceremony, but in its symbolism. Dr. Makanga’s career exemplifies how African scientists can lead, shape policy, and influence global health priorities when empowered and supported.
Makerere University colleagues attest to this impact. Dr. Victoria Nankabirwa, a clinical researcher and epidemiologist, reflects: “EDCTP support allowed me to build multidisciplinary teams, enhance laboratory and trial infrastructure, and generate evidence relevant for policy and practice. It strengthened my scientific independence and expanded the long-term sustainability of my research, particularly on childhood vaccines.”
She adds, “Dr. Makanga’s vision and commitment have strengthened institutions, built capacity, and fostered equitable partnerships, enabling African investigators to lead complex studies that address the continent’s priorities. His recognition shows what is possible when scientists are empowered, trusted, and supported.”
Dr. Alex Kayongo, an immunologist at Makerere University, describes EDCTP support as “catalytic,” enabling advanced training and a platform to study microbiome–immune interactions in HIV-associated COPD. His work is shaping mechanistic insights and strengthening Uganda’s capacity for complex respiratory immunology research. “Global health funding is increasingly competitive, making EDCTP’s role even more vital,” he says. “Africa needs sustainable support for complex, lab-intensive research. Continued investment in infrastructure, leadership, and fair partnerships is essential if African institutions are to drive innovation and secure true scientific sovereignty.”
Dr. David Musoke, an associate professor of disease control, credits his EDCTP fellowship with deepening his malaria research and advancing his career. His studies combined housing improvements, environmental management, and behavioural measures to complement traditional malaria prevention, shaping practical, community-informed interventions. “Dr. Makanga’s contribution to African science has been tremendous, and his continued stewardship gives us confidence that evidence generated on the continent will increasingly shape policy and practice,” he observes.
Dr. Makanga’s impact is visible not only in individual careers but across institutions and nations. Through EDCTP, he has championed African-led trials, strengthened laboratory capacity, and fostered cross-country collaboration. Colleagues emphasize that his leadership has created a generation of African scientists who are confident, collaborative, and globally competitive.
“My experience with EDCTP-funded programmes has shown the transformative impact of African-led research,” Dr. Nankabirwa reflects. “Dr. Makanga’s vision and commitment have strengthened institutions, built capacity, and fostered equitable partnerships, enabling African investigators to lead complex studies that address the continent’s priorities. His recognition shows what is possible when scientists are empowered, trusted, and supported, inspiring the next generation of research leaders.”
Dr. Makanga’s recognition is a tribute to perseverance, vision, and mentorship: a scientist who kept going when resources were scarce, a leader who refused partnerships that treated Africans as subjects, and a mentor who reminded young researchers that they belong at the centre of global science.
As he stood among Africa’s leading innovators in Dakar, the message was unmistakable: Africa can lead, Africa must lead, and it will lead, through science, excellence, and equity.
Makerere University is proud to celebrate Dr. Michael Makanga, one of its distinguished alumni, on receiving the Special Career Achievement Prize of the Prix Galien Africa 2025. This honor recognises his exceptional leadership in medical research and his role in advancing African-led science. Through his work, Dr. Makanga continues to strengthen institutions, mentor emerging researchers, and amplify Africa’s voice on the global health stage.
Kalangala, an idyllic archipelago often romanticised for its sunsets, today witnessed a historic leap in healthcare. Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, launched the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Kalangala Clinical Research Centre—the island’s first modern research facility.
“This is more than a building; it’s a lifeline,” said Prof. Nawangwe. “IDI is not only Uganda’s leading health partner, managing over 20% of HIV cases, but research is first on its agenda. If people are not healthy, they can’t work—it’s useless to invest in anything else.”
Kalangala ranks third in HIV prevalence nationwide at 13.1%, with fishing communities hardest hit. Until now, residents endured perilous boat rides to the mainland for advanced care. “Accessing healthcare has always meant a journey across waves—long, costly, and sometimes dangerous,” said District Chairperson Jajab Ssemakula. “You have not only invested in Kalangala; you have brought Makerere University to Kalangala.”
Supported by the Gates Foundation, the centre is part of a multinational HIV prevention study conducted across 31 sites in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. Its first mission: testing whether a monthly pill can protect adolescent girls and young women from HIV—a breakthrough that could transform vulnerable communities.
“This centre means access without barriers,” said Dr. Andrew Kambugu, IDI Executive Director. “Kalangala residents no longer need to travel long distances for clinical trials or advanced care.”
Prof. Samuel Luboga, IDI Board Chairperson, reassured residents of IDI’s long-term commitment:
“We are not a fleeting partner. This sentinel research centre aligns with our vision of freeing Africa from the burden of infectious diseases. The assurance I give Kalangala is—we are here to stay.”
Henry Ssebunya, Deputy Resident District Commissioner, praised IDI’s innovation and consistency:
“IDI has treated and cared for people living with HIV, deployed medical drones to deliver life-saving medicines, and now built a research centre. This is a new chapter for Kalangala.”
From a sleeping sickness camp in 1906 to a cutting-edge research hub in 2025, Kalangala’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and hope.
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