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.
The Iteso Cultural Leader, His Highness Emorimor Papa Paul Sande Emolot, has called on Makerere University to elevate the Science of Designing, Adaptation, and Implementation of Evidence-Based Parenting Interventions course into a fully-fledged programme. This, he argued, would strengthen the capacity of practitioners implementing parenting interventions across Uganda.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony held on 11th June 2025 at Makerere University where 35 practitioners completed the 12-week course, Emorimor Papa Emolot emphasized the transformative power of effective parenting. He urged aspiring parents and advocates of the Parenting for Respectability model to enroll in the course.
Citing the impact in his own sub-county and village, the cultural leader revealed that over 800 families had already benefited from the programme.
“We now see peace and love in homes where there was once conflict. Without good parenting, you risk raising animals instead of children,” he passionately stated.
He praised the course for equipping practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with the skills needed to design culturally sensitive, evidence-based parenting interventions tailored to Uganda’s context. Among the notable graduates was Her Royal Majesty Juliet Among Emolot Atomeileng Akaliat Toto, who reaffirmed her commitment to advancing family-strengthening initiatives using the skills and knowledge acquired.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at Makerere University, described the course as a timely intervention. During this remarks, Dr. Siu described the event as a significant milestone in advancing the field of evidence based parenting intervention and family strengthening in Uganda.
“This course is meant to empower you as practitioners, policy makers and all those involved in development and implementation of parenting work. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical tools essential for developing high quality interventions”, Dr. Siu noted. He urged the pioneer group to carry forward the expertise as champions of designing, adaptation and implementation of evidence parenting interventions.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Dr. Aggrey David Kibenge, Juliana Naumo, Commissioner for Culture and Family Affairs, said the course supports the government’s agenda to address negative social outcomes affecting families.
“By grounding parenting in research, harmonizing policy with practice, and advocating for equity, we will ensure no family is left behind,” she said. “Cross-sectoral collaboration is key to unlocking transformative change.”
Ms. Naumo highlighted the government’s commitment—both technical and financial—to support outstanding student projects from the course. She stressed the importance of equipping professionals with the skills to bridge gaps between research and practice for consistent, high-quality parenting support across Uganda. While delivering the Vice chancellors speech by Dr. Helen Nambalirwa, Principal of the CHUSS, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the graduates as a beacon of hope.
“At a time when parenting faces challenges like digital distractions, changing societal norms, and a rising mental health crisis, Makerere reaffirms its support for interventions that drive the societal transformation we desire,” Nawangwe stated.
Prof. Richard Idro, Deputy Principal of the College of Health Sciences, acknowledged the growing parenting challenges in Uganda and the region, adding that the course was a major step towards standardizing parenting interventions nationwide.
He applauded the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) for leading this paramount and critical initiative.
Mr. Hosea Katende, Course Administrator at CHDC, emphasized the importance of integrating systematic methods, ethical principles, robust evidence, and collaboration to create lasting impact in parenting.
Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi, Lecturer at CHDC, representing Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director of CHDC, acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the ELMA Foundation and Echidna Giving for their financial and capacity-building support. He also appreciated the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, among other stakeholders, for their technical guidance in the programme’s successful implementation.
Dr. Dhabangi extended gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and acknowledged growing collaborations with other cultural institutions such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in the shared mission of building strong families as the foundation of Uganda’s future.
He extended his heartfelt gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and others kingdoms such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in building Uganda’s future through creating strong families. Nuruh Mbalyowere, a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Officer with the Uganda Prisons Service, was honored for developing the best parenting intervention titled “Parenting Behind Prison Bars.” She expressed her intention to apply the knowledge gained both at home and in her workplace.
By Okeya John and Primrose Nabankema
The intensive one-month course, running for the first time from June 5 to July 24, 2025, is jointly offered by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH)’s Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences (CHBS) and the Department of Journalism and Communication (DJC) at the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication (SLLC), co-designed in 2024 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation through Amref Health Africa.
It seeks to equip healthcare providers at the community level, public health and environmental health practitioners, communication specialists, health educators, community development officers, social scientists, and policy makers, among others, with strategic communication skills to improve public health messaging, strengthen community engagement, and support evidence-based interventions, ultimately empowering participants to effectively engage communities and improve population health outcomes across Uganda and the region.
Launching the course, the heads of the Department of Journalism and Communication and the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences noted that participants who complete the short course will gain practical tools to influence behaviour change, build trust, and deliver timely, accurate, and relevant health information to the communities they serve. The first cohort attracted more than 60 applicants, with 36 reporting for the opening in-person session on June 5, 2025, at MakSPH in Mulago. Between now and July, participants will undergo a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience within the Certificate in Health Communication and Community Engagement program, which combines theory and practice.
Among the participants in the first cohort of the certificate course, designed as a pilot for the anticipated Master of Health Promotion and Communication to be jointly offered by the two departments at Makerere University, is Ms. Maureen Kisaakye, a medical laboratory technologist specialising in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and currently pursuing a Master’s in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology at Makerere. She is driven by a passion to help reverse the rising tide of AMR, a growing global health threat where drugs that once worked are no longer effective. Kisaakye is particularly concerned about common infections, like urinary tract infections, becoming increasingly resistant and harder to treat.
“I enrolled in this course because I’m an advocate against antimicrobial resistance, and it came at a time when I needed to deepen my knowledge on how to implement our projects more effectively and engage with communities. The experience has broadened my understanding of AMR and its impact on society, and strengthened my passion for community-driven health initiatives and advocacy,” Kisaakye said, explaining why she enrolled for the short course.
Kisaakye’s work in antimicrobial resistance extends beyond the lab. Having earned her degree in medical laboratory science from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, she founded Impala Tech Research in 2024 to drive impact and save lives. She has led grassroots AMR campaigns that integrate antimicrobial stewardship with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education in underserved urban communities, including the informal settlements in Kampala. She also has since designed peer-led initiatives that empower university students as AMR Champions, building a network of informed youth advocates. Kisaakye believes the health communication course will sharpen her ability to design and deliver impactful, community-centred interventions in response to the growing threat of drug resistance.
“The department collaborates with many partners within and beyond the University, including the School of Public Health, where we are working to develop the subfield of health communication and promotion. Our goal is to train specialists in this area and build a community of practice, something we have each been doing in our own spaces. There’s a lot of work ahead, and COVID-19 showed us just how urgently we need a generation trained to do this kind of work, and to do it very well,” said Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, during the opening of the short course on June 5.
She assured participants they were in good hands and underscored the importance of the partnership between the Department of Journalism and Communication and the School of Public Health, describing it as a vital collaboration that brings together strategic communication and public health expertise. This dynamic, multidisciplinary approach, she noted, is essential to developing practical solutions that empower communities, strengthen health systems, and ultimately improve livelihoods.
The course offers a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience, with participants intended to explore key modules including Health Communication and Promotion, Risk Communication, Smart Advocacy, Community Mapping, Community Mobilisation and Empowerment, and Strategies for Community Engagement. The course combines theory with real-world application, and its assessment includes a field-based project and a final exam.
“You are our first cohort. We are seeing the fruits of our efforts in bringing this short course to life. It was born out of a joint initiative to develop a Master’s programme in Health Promotion and Communication,” said Dr. Christine Nalwadda, Head of the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences. “We carried out extensive consultations with our different key stakeholders during the process and discovered a real need for such a course. It was the stakeholders who even named it; this course name didn’t come from us.”
For Kisaakye, by the end of the course in July, she hopes to have sharpened her skills in health promotion and strategic communication, particularly in crafting targeted messages that help individuals and communities effectively respond to threats such as antimicrobial resistance. She also aims to gain practical experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating community health initiatives that can strengthen her advocacy and drive lasting impact.
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