Health
Global Conversations: Climate Change Multiplies Health Risks, A Call to Action on Extreme Weather Effects
By Davidson Ndyabahika, Johanna Blomgren and Julius T. Mugaga
Experts have urged urgent action to mitigate the health risks of climate change. The 2023 global conversation, on Climate Change and Health highlighted the need for transformational action in every sector to protect people’s health from climate change.
Held on September 5, 2023 the virtual seminar, organized by the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH), a collaboration between Makerere University and the Karolinska Institutet that aims to increase capacity and spur action to advance the agenda for sustainable health drew over 230 attendees from all over the world. It placed emphasis on mitigating the effects of extreme weather, such flooding.
In its 2023 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that global terrestrial, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems have already been affected by climate change, along with the associated losses and costs. It predicts that heavy rainfall and flooding events are expected to worsen and occur more frequently in the majority of regions of Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe by 1.5°C global warming (high confidence).
The 2023 IPCC report identifies barriers that prevent people and society from implementing climate-resilient behaviors. Financial limitations, conflicts with the SDGs, inequalities, institutional, economic, and social hurdles, as well as dispersed strategies, are a few of these. The panel equally agree that if global warming exceeds 1.5 °C and the SDGs are not adequately progressed, chances for climate-resilient development would be considerably more limited.
Now, during the seminar, the panel, by consensus agreed that climate change is critical citing that such conversations on critical factors in relation to the climate and health crisis are not only timely but necessary.
Climate change impacts the social determinants of health, which include excellent health and wellbeing, by causing decreased food output, low fishing yields, flooding, and infrastructure damage, according to Daniel Helldén, a PhD student at KI Department of Global Public Health.
“The future emission scenarios are dire. What is becoming more and more clear is that climate change is a generational issue. Children born today will continue to bear the biggest burden of climate change impact,” said Helldén.
Dr. Mugume Isaac Amooti, the Director of Weather Forecasting Services at the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA), emphasized the importance of considering both long-term averages and unprecedented weather events driven by climate change. These events are thought extreme only when they exceed past records. He noted for instance that in Uganda; “The widespread flooding brought on by heavy and frequent precipitation is what we are seeing in Uganda, particularly in the cities. However, we are witnessing heat waves and cold waves at different times of the year.”
Although there isn’t a clear pattern in Sweden’s precipitation, Dr. Johanna Sörensen of Lund University in Sweden said that forecasts suggest that rainfall may increase by the end of the century. Given the flooding problems that already present, this, she says is something to worry about. “Flooding is increasing not only because of climate change but also even more that we construct the cities more densely and we construct buildings and industries on lowly areas that we used not to do in the past which is of course not a good idea.”
Dr. Tamer Rabie, a lead health specialist at the World Bank Group, notes that risks are amplified by climate change, which therefore has an intensified negative impact. He points out, for instance, that in order to comprehend how climate change and changes in temperature and precipitation patterns will affect health, it is critical to view climate change as a risk multiplier.
Dr. Tamer, also the architect of the World Bank’s global Health-Climate and Environment Program (H-CEP), underscored three pathways through which climate change impacts health: direct effects, indirect effects, and those mediated by ecosystems. Some of the direct pathways include issues like increased temperatures likely to lead to heat waves, heat-related illnesses, worsened non-communicable diseases, and increase in the risk of events like traumatic injuries.
According to Dr. Tamer, ecosystem-mediated risks include vector-borne diseases (like Malaria and Dengue), foodborne illnesses, and waterborne diseases (like Cholera). These risks are closely tied to how health outcomes are influenced by the ecosystem. Additionally, indirect health impacts encompass mental health due to population displacements, as well as malnutrition resulting from shifts in food production and overall food systems.
“We have done estimates in the World Bank that show that extreme weather events and climate change will lead to pushing nearly 132 million people into extreme poverty by 2030. If you look at the health impacts within those figures and the main drivers, we are seeing that nearly 44 million out of those 132 will be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030 if we don’t take any action today,” Dr. Tamer.
According to Dr. Tamer, the World Bank has conducted climate and health vulnerability assessments specifically looking at the cost of inaction moving into the 2030s and 2050s using information that relates to malaria, dengue, diarrhea, stunting in children, heat related illnesses, floods, among others.
“What we are seeing is that on average, countries will be losing anywhere between 1-5% of their GDP as a result of not really addressing the climate crisis, not being able to address these impacts that we are talking about, and obviously not investing enough into the health systems to be able to be more resilient,” Dr. Tamer noted during the webinar.
According to Dr. Sara Gabrielsson, an Associate Senior Lecturer in Sustainability Science at Lund University’s Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), addressing immediate health risks involves containing flooding, which is just one aspect of climate change-related challenges like sea level rise and drought.
She highlights the connection between various deadly diseases like dengue, typhoid, trachoma, and cholera among others to this issue. During a crisis like flooding, treatment for these diseases she notes often takes a backseat due to the overwhelming health burdens that arise.
“There is death from drowning or direct injury from debris in these very storm surges, but then we also have the issue of just water sitting, waiting in water for longer periods, leading to lots of infections, urine-tract infections, vaginal infections, skin diseases, hypothermia, lots of those kinds of things, but also vector-borne diseases, and especially malaria, which is, of course, one big thing here,” Dr. Gabrielsson opines.
She adds that flooding brings problems like contaminated drinking water, leading to chronic diarrhea and malnutrition. Additionally, damaged sanitation facilities force people into open defecation, exposing them to harmful bacteria and further risk of chronic diarrhea.
“These immediate health risks are just the beginning. Moving into long-term risks, flooding severely impacts the availability of clean water for basic hygiene. As we’ve learned from COVID, hygiene is paramount for health. Insufficient handwashing and personal hygiene can breed disease. We need proper hygiene for preparing food, tending to babies, managing menstrual health, and more. Without it, there’s increased exposure to harmful bacteria, compounded by the use of inadequate sanitation systems, resulting in outbreaks of various diseases,” observed Gabrielsson.
Way forward
Dr. Sörensen, from a Swedish standpoint, proposes proactive steps to mitigate flooding. These include slowing down water flow, discouraging construction in flood-prone zones, and avoiding building in areas prone to heavy rain. She points out that in cities like Mumbai and Gothenburg, there has been a concerning trend of construction in flood-prone regions. Dr. Sörensen emphasizes the importance of adapting solutions for creating greener, more sustainable cities. “In China, they call it a sponge city. It’s like a sponge—you fill it up with water during rainfall and then use it later for various purposes. Utilizing vegetation and water storage helps retain water and slow down its flow in urban areas. Green spaces in cities are crucial for health, well-being, and providing shade, especially during heatwaves,” she says.
In Uganda, Dr. Mugume notes that the government has invested in weather monitoring infrastructure, including the three weather radars, which are strategically spread across the country to enable UNMA to monitor weather at any part of the country.
“With this technology, we can now offer more precise and timely services, ensuring our communities respond effectively. Weather and climate forecasts range from hourly to seasonal projections. Shorter forecasts tend to be more accurate, although longer ones still fall within manageable limits. For instance, our seasonal forecast accuracy in Uganda is at 90%, aligning with National Development Plan 3. We collaborate with development partners to fine-tune these forecasts.”
For Dr. Gabrielsson, preparedness is key, especially for the 2.2 billion people worldwide relying on sanitation systems, many of whom live in rapidly urbanizing areas and unplanned settlements.
Unfortunately, these systems often lack proper management, leading to health risks. In urban settings, she says, the spread of sludge from these systems can have widespread health implications. To address this, there’s a pressing need to prioritize climate-resilient sanitation systems. Historically, the sanitation sector has been under-prioritized, resulting in insufficient funding and political attention. Without a one-size-fits-all solution due to diverse living habits, cultural considerations become paramount. A gender-responsive approach is crucial, as women are primarily responsible for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices.
“It involves recognizing the unique needs of different groups, such as refugees, the elderly, disabled individuals, children, and menstruating individuals. Climate-resilient wash infrastructure requires community responsibility, government policy, and financial support. For instance, in flood-prone areas like the Amazon Basin, sanitation facilities are designed to align with local livelihoods, incorporating features like composting latrines that produce manure for farming and collecting rainwater for handwashing. This approach ensures environmental safety and sustainable practices,” she observes.
Dr. Gabrielsson emphasizes the importance of cultural acceptance in encouraging people’s dedication to upholding basic sanitation and hygiene practices, particularly in the face of flooding. “Another example I presented is a UNICEF-supported toilet in Bangladesh. It’s elevated with precast concrete rings to prevent flooding, sealed with concrete mortar for contamination prevention, and reinforced to withstand heavy rain and wind. This design was developed in close consultation with local communities, ensuring cultural acceptance and affordability. The goal is to create facilities that people actually want to use, which is why it’s crucial to integrate natural and social sciences for effective solutions.”
The World Bank has substantially supported action on climate change, including both adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Dr. Tamer says over $2.2 billion has been set aside as of today for climate-related health interventions, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Significant assistance has also been given to assist tiny island states in managing the effects of climate change, particularly extreme events.
In Yemen, the World Bank has sponsored efforts to put in place electronic early warning systems for real-time health data and policy response due to outbreaks of diseases including cholera and malaria. In Madagascar, the World Bank has funded work combining climate and nutrition programming. The World Bank worked with the government of Ghana to create long-lasting vaccine delivery networks.
Nearly half of Uganda’s prison population has latent tuberculosis (TB), according to the latest Uganda National Prevalence Survey on Tuberculosis, HIV, and COVID-19. The survey, released on May 15, 2025, found that active TB cases in prisons stand at 1,900 per 100,000—eight times higher than in the general population.
The survey was conducted by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in conjunction with the Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) and the Ministry of Health—with funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and technical support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC)—and purposed to have a more profound understanding of TB to help inform public health programs for this high-risk population.
Dr. Simon Kasasa, a Senior Lecturer at MakSPH and Principal Investigator of this study, stressed that “staying for a longer duration, three years and above, posed a greater risk to TB infection in prison.” He also noted TB infection was much higher among male prisoners (48%) compared to female prisoners (38%) and among those of older age, 65 years and above. Meanwhile, the report noted concerns about excessive numbers in prisons as a key risk factor for TB transmission.
UPS consists of 257 prisons spread over 16 administrative regions with an average prisoner population of 56,400 (95% male), accommodation capacity of 16,612 (340%), and 9,904 staff (29% female).
HIV prevalence among prisoners was also alarmingly high at 11%, twice that of the general population. Notably, female persons in prison (PIP) had the highest HIV rates at 21%, compared to 11% for male PIP and just 2% among prison staff. However, the data also showed a significant drop in overall HIV prevalence within prisons, falling from 15% in 2013 to 11% in 2023, with the most dramatic decline among staff, from 12% to 2%.
Dr. George Tumusinze, a Program Manager and Research Associate, pointed out that although 92% of people with HIV in prisons know their status and 99% are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 70% have successfully reduced the virus in their bodies, highlighting important issues with how well the treatment is working.
Mr. Samuel Akena, the Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons, echoed these concerns by stating that the survey represents a significant milestone for the Prisons, not only in terms of data collection but also in Uganda’s journey towards achieving equity, justice, and the right to health for all. “This survey is historic. It represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to understand the health status of people in prisons in Uganda.” He emphasized the necessity of a collective and bold response, urging that “the time for piecemeal responses is over.”
Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “As we gather today to reflect on the findings of this important survey, we must recognize the urgent need for action in our fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda. Despite our efforts, we are still grappling with the burden of this disease, and our progress toward eliminating it by 2030 has not been as swift as we had hoped.” He pointed out that the survey serves as a critical baseline that will shape future responses and guide resource allocation.
HIV prevalence among prison staff members was the lowest, at just 2%, reflecting a significant achievement in workplace health. Dr. Daniel Byamukama, Head of HIV Prevention at the Uganda AIDS Commission, praised prison authorities for their efforts, noting the remarkable progress over the past decade. In the first survey in 2013, only 34% of HIV-positive staff on treatment had achieved viral load suppression. Today, that figure has reached an impressive 100%, underscoring the impact of sustained prevention and care efforts.
While the prison HIV program has shown effectiveness—evidenced by a drop in prevalence from 15% to 11% among the prisoners over the past decade—Mr. Akena stressed the importance of prioritizing gender-responsive strategies in health interventions.
“Diseases do not recognize bars or borders. They thrive in environments where conditions are poor and resources are scarce. Women in prison face disproportionately higher risks, yet often remain invisible in program planning. This is not acceptable. If we are serious about health equity, we must prioritize gender-responsive strategies — within prison health systems and beyond,” Mr. Akena.
CDC Uganda Director Dr. Adetinuke (Mary) Boyd reinforced the significance of the survey in addressing public health risks. “In Uganda, CDC partners are helping to ensure inmates stay healthy during custody. This work facilitates safe reintegration into their communities, mitigates disease transmission to the general population, and reduces public health risks like untreated TB,” she stated. Dr. Boyd highlighted the role of PEPFAR in tackling critical global health threats, asserting that the survey offers helpful data for enhancing health collaboration within this vulnerable population.
The U.S. CDC has been supporting Uganda Prisons Services to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS, STI, and TB prevention, care, and treatment services for the last 15 years (2010–2025), totaling over $18,046,263 in investment—including $550,000 to this study alone, through the Makerere University School of Public Health. The program supports capacity building, scale-up, and health system strengthening efforts in HIV/TB testing, care, and support for prisoners and prison staff, plus surrounding communities.
With 80% of prison wards overcrowded and 95% lacking adequate natural ventilation, the conditions in which these individuals live exacerbate the spread of infectious diseases, public health specialists have warned. This survey underlines the urgent need for systemic changes within the prison health system, as well as a commitment to uphold the rights and health of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
As Uganda grapples with these alarming statistics, the call to action is clear. Stakeholders must come together to implement effective health interventions, improve screening and treatment protocols, and ensure that the rights of incarcerated individuals are respected. The health of the general population is inextricably linked to the health of those within prison walls, and addressing these challenges is not just a moral imperative but a public health necessity.
Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, one of the investigators and Dean of the School of Public Health, asserts that the Survey findings are a wake-up call for stakeholders to prioritize health equity and justice for society’s most vulnerable members.
Prof. Wanyenze advocated for improved TB screening methods and institutionalization of regular mass TB screening using the WHO-recommended advanced diagnostic tools like digital chest X-rays with Computer-Aided Detection (CAD), as well as molecular diagnostics like GeneXpert and TB LAM, noting that traditional symptom-based screening missed nearly half of TB cases. “The use of molecular diagnostics like GeneXpert significantly improved case detection in our study,” she added, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.
Uganda Prisons Service, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has so far installed 14 GeneXpert machines in medium- to high-volume prison health facilities.
While some, including Members of Parliament, have raised concerns about the potential infringement on individual rights through mandatory TB testing in prisons, Dr. James Kisambu, the Commissioner for Prison Health Services, noted that it is now apparent, with these findings, for everyone to appreciate that in such confined settings, the risk of transmission is extraordinarily high. TB testing in these settings is not just a medical practice but also a crucial public health precaution that protects both prisoners and the wider community.
“Prisons are high-risk, high-transmission environments where one undetected case can rapidly escalate into an outbreak. In such settings, the right to refuse testing must be weighed against the right of others to be protected from infection. Mandatory TB screening, when done with dignity and linked to prompt treatment, is not a violation of rights — it is an essential public health measure to protect both people in prison and the communities they return to,” said Dr. James Kisambu.
The researchers from MakSPH were; Dr. Simon Kasasa, Associate Professor Esther Buregyeya, Dr. George Tumusinze, Dr. Simon Walusimbi, Dr. Dick Kasozi, Dr. Ronald Senyonga, John Baptist Bwanika, Prossy Nabaterega and Professor Rhoda Wanyenze.
Additionally, the study team from the Uganda Prisons Service comprised of Dr. Leonard Marungu, Charles Butagasa, Dr. James Kisambu and Dr. Johnson Byabashaiza, the Commissioner General of Prisons.
Finally, Dr. Deus Lukoye, Dr. Julius Ssempiira, Charles Kavuma, Rise Nakityo, Samuel Sendagala, Grace Nantege, Lisa Mills, Dr. Lisa Nelson, Kenneth Mwambi from U.S. CDC Uganda/Atlanta and PEPFAR USG agencies, and George William Kasule, Didas Tugumisirize, Dr. Simon Muchuro, Professor Moses Joloba, Dr. Turyahabwe Stavia from the Uganda Ministry of Health National TB and Leprosy Program (NTLP) completed the team.
On April 23, 2025, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) convened district leaders, health managers, and project partners to disseminate the outcomes of a major leadership and management strengthening initiative in Wakiso District, Central Uganda. The one-year project, part of the Global Health Partnerships programme funded by NHS England, was implemented in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wakiso District Local Government, and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Launched in 2024, the project titled Strengthening Leadership and Management Among Local Government Health Managers in Wakiso District, aimed to co-design and pilot a leadership and management training tailored to the realities of Uganda’s decentralised health system. The intervention, led by Makerere University’s Dr. David Musoke and Nottingham Trent University’s Prof. Linda Gibson, through the over 15-year-old NTU-Mak Partnership impacting lives in Wakiso, began with a field visit to over 60 public health facilities in the district, a needs assessment within these facilities to identify key priority gaps, and a baseline survey with the health in-charges to establish the initial status of key indicators.
“We have been very fortunate to work with a supportive local government in Wakiso, from the top leadership down. While many projects struggle to engage district teams, our longstanding relationship with Wakiso made collaboration seamless. Although this was our first initiative specifically focused on leadership and management, we hope it will serve as a stepping stone for even more impactful work in the future,” Dr. David Musoke, a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University and the Uganda Project Lead, said during the dissemination workshop, highlighting the key success factors for the leadership and management project.
Initial results from the needs assessment and baseline on leadership and management competencies conducted among Wakiso District health facility supervisors early last year by the project team and shared during the three-day workshop in June 2024, held in Kampala, which kickstarted the six-month structured fellowship programme for 53 health managers in Wakiso, had found critical capacity gaps. Using a tool evaluating 17 leadership and 33 management competencies, only 40% of the managers met the 80% benchmark for leadership, scoring highest in cognitive skills, while just 33% met the required management standard, performing best in self-management and lowest in quality management.
Then, the health facility managers with postgraduate training, longer service, and strong team dynamics, showed overall better performance. While working relationships with subordinates and the district leadership were largely positive, performance was hampered by systemic challenges such as limited resources, low motivation, and weak teamwork. Overall, the study also pointed to a misalignment of expectations between the District Local Government and the Health Ministry, underscoring the need to strengthen coordination to improve services.
The result of this mismatch was to the effect that, as of this time last year, Wakiso District ranked among the bottom 10 on the national health league table, which is an annual Ministry of Health assessment of district performance across key service delivery and patient satisfaction indicators. This was despite Wakiso being Uganda’s most populous district, with over 3.4 million residents today, as it continued to struggle to deliver essential health services to the public. The 2022/2023 Annual Health Sector Performance Report also flagged persistent challenges, including frequent transfers of facility in-charges, overstretched management structures, and weak internal communication and coordination.
It was this stark reality that informed the leadership and management intervention in Wakiso. Officiating the dissemination of the project outcomes, Dr. Sarah Byakika, Commissioner for Planning, Financing, and Policy at the Ministry of Health and a member of the National Oversight Mechanism for the programme, commended the remarkable progress made in just six months, citing visible improvements across the district as a direct result of the intervention.
“I have been involved with this programme right from its inception, and I’m proud that Uganda became one of its major beneficiaries,” Dr. Byakika said with gratitude, commending the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Makerere University, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham University Hospitals, Wakiso District and the development partners for supporting the initiative. She emphasised the value of this partnership in strengthening leadership and management competencies among Wakiso District health managers to address critical performance gaps in health service delivery.
“Wakiso is Uganda’s largest and most populous district, yet it has long underperformed on key health indices. Despite its semi-urban nature, it faces enormous health service delivery challenges, partly due to the overwhelming burden on its District Health Officer, who oversees more than 60 public and over 340 private health facilities. Many of these private facilities open and close frequently, complicating service oversight,” Dr. Byakika observed with concern.
Her sentiments were echoed by the District Health Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Mukisa, in a message delivered by Wakiso District Biostatistician, Mr. Frank Kakande. He noted that the project had contributed to a noticeable shift in the district’s health system performance, with visible improvements in leadership, communication, and accountability among facility in-charges beginning to translate into better overall health service delivery outcomes.
“You cannot talk about management without addressing performance: they go hand in hand. As someone who sits at the centre of district health data, I can confidently say that performance has improved. During the most recent national local government performance assessment, where I participated in the evaluation, Wakiso District’s health department ranked 18th out of 146 districts. That health ranking is a major achievement. We have consistently performed poorly in the past, but this time, we made significant progress,” Mr. Kakande told the attentive audience, speaking with an air of relief and satisfaction.
The Wakiso District Biostatistician credited part of this progress within the district, from the poor performance last year, to the leadership training and mentorship delivered through the project, citing visible improvements across key health indicators. He stressed the need to sustain this momentum through continued mentorship, internal capacity strengthening, and consistent application of the skills acquired by health managers, particularly in tackling persistent management challenges such as absenteeism, delegation, and accountability.
“Last week, I held a performance review at Kakiri Health Centre III, and the improvements were clear. These management skills are making a difference. You can see the change across indicators. But what matters now is sustainability. The support provided through supervision and mentorship was essential. But it’s up to us to keep the fire burning. We have learned a lot: communication skills, problem-solving, time management, and decision-making. Managers are now communicating better. Even issues like absenteeism are being addressed through proper reporting and action,” Mr. Kakande said.
Earlier, Dr. Musoke, presenting the overall project overview and success, explained that based on initial findings from the baseline and needs assessment, the team co-designed and delivered a structured six-month capacity-building programme targeting 60 health facility in-charges in Wakiso District. The programme blended in-person and virtual sessions, combining practical training with one-on-one mentorship, and included an exchange component between Uganda and the UK to promote international exposure and peer learning. This allowed the health managers to apply new skills to strengthen health outcomes in Wakiso.
“This project rightly focused on addressing gaps in leadership and management. I advocated for including this component in the programme, because our national health review missions consistently show that poor performance often stems from weak leadership and management,” Dr. Byakika affirmed, adding that: “I am pleased to see that nearly all public facilities in Wakiso participated. While the project had a short implementation window, the evaluation already shows encouraging results. Health managers feel more empowered, motivated, and aware of their roles. That’s a significant step.”
For her part, Dr. Sheba Gitta, Uganda Country Director for Global Health Partnerships, formerly Tropical Health and Education Trust, applauded the leadership and management capacity-building initiative in Wakiso as a timely, locally driven intervention. She underscored the value of two-way learning between Uganda and the UK health systems through the programme, noting that Global Health Partnerships works closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure all funded initiatives align with Uganda’s national development priorities.
“What excites me most is that this was not a pre-packaged programme imported from the UK. The training was co-created by partners, based on local realities and needs. That approach reflects strong collaboration between Makerere University School of Public Health and Nottingham Trent University. I thank Prof. Linda Gibson for her continued commitment and Dr. David Musoke for his proactive leadership in bringing this programme to life. Your consistency and quality of work continue to stand out,” Dr. Gitta shared.
While commending the progress made, she cautioned against “pilotism”, as a tendency for promising projects to end prematurely, calling for the model to be scaled up nationally. To support sustainability, she stressed the importance of documenting the training process, outcomes, and costs to inform ministry-level decision-making and long-term adoption.
Dr. Gitta joined Prof. Linda Gibson, the UK Lead for the Project, to encourage the trained managers to become champions of leadership within their facilities and districts, ensuring that the impact of the programme endures beyond its current cycle. She also thanked NHS England and the UK Government for their trust and investment in Uganda’s health system.
Health
Makerere-Incubated Safe Bangle Technologies Wins Prestigious World Summit Award for Innovation Against GBV
By Joseph Odoi
In a groundbreaking achievement, SafeBangle Technologies, an innovation incubated at Makerere University, has won the prestigious World Summit Award 2025 for its groundbreaking contribution to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in Africa. This remarkable honor comes in recognition of the development and implementation of a real-time domestic violence reporting bracelet.
The award was presented to the SafeBangle team that was represented by Saul Kabali, Messach Luminsa, and Janet Christine Nabaloga from SafeBangle Technologies at the WSA Global Congress in Hyderabad, India, where Uganda’s innovation potential was proudly showcased on a global stage.
The award was conferred in the Inclusion & Empowerment category for Safe Bangle’s cutting-edge solution; a wearable safety bracelet designed to address the pressing challenge of gender-based violence (GBV) across Africa.
The SafeBangle is a smartwatch-like, real-time domestic violence reporting bracelet that allows users to send SMS alerts via a single button press. Its core mission is to create a safer, more secure environment for women and children in Africa through innovative, affordable tech solutions.
According to Saul Kabali and Messach Luminsa, the innovators behind SafeBangle from SafeBangle Technologies, hosted at the Resilient African Network Lab. This award is very timely and a recognition that cements the importance of community rooted technology.
The team further stated that ‘’This award is a powerful affirmation of our mission and refuels our commitment to empowering Ugandan women and girls through innovation and technology. It influences our next steps by opening doors to new partnerships, increasing our credibility, and accelerating efforts to scale the SafeBangle nationally. We’re now more equipped to positively impact the daily lives of Ugandan women and girls through our SafeBangle bracelet.
To further the innovation, the team has called upon government to support the Safe Bangle Innovation
‘’Governments can support us by providing funding, facilitating policy support, and creating collaborative platforms for innovation. NGOs can help with grassroots outreach, and connect us to potential donors and funders interested in solving Sexual and Gender Based Violence amongst vulnerable communities; and tech partners can enhance scalability through infrastructure, data insights, and capacity building.
Moving forward, the team emphasized the importance of uniting innovation, partnership, and purpose to scale impact. “As we empower communities, invest in local solutions, and promote collaboration, we can transform how technology protects and uplifts women and girls across Uganda,” added the award-winning team.
The Story Behind the Safe Bangle Bracelet Innovation
According to the Safe Bangle innovators Saul Kabali and Messach Luminsa , ‘’The inspiration behind SafeBangle came from a deeply personal place. ‘’We heard countless stories of women who couldn’t call for help during moments of danger. We were deeply affected by the story of Aisha, a young woman in a rural village who was attacked while walking home alone at night. With no way to call for help, she felt helpless and vulnerable. This incident made us realize the critical need for immediate reporting alert tools, accessible to women like Aisha. We knew technology could play a crucial role and this incident awakened a strong desire in us to create a solution’’
To Makerere University School of Public Health’s Dr. Juliet Kiguli, who collaborated closely with the team during the rollout of the bracelet, this award is a vote of confidence in the work of Makerere University, whose core function focuses on teaching, learning, community engagement, research, and innovation, all contributing to the university’s efforts in addressing domestic violence.
‘’The award-winning innovation stems from the findings of a longitudinal study led by the Makerere University School of Public Health.
While carrying out a study after the Covid-19 Pandemic, we identified gaps when it comes to reporting and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) among women in informal settlements. Therefore, we used to incorporate the SafeBangle intervention to solve the problem of lack of affordable and immediate reporting mechanisms for violence using a bracelet that reports violence in real time
We’re excited about the progress so far, and with this recognition, we hope that more like-minded partners will join us to scale this initiative and ultimately help make the world a safer place for all.” Added Dr Kiguli of the Safe Bangle innovation potential
The research team, comprising Dr. Juliet Kiguli (Principal Investigator), Dr. Roy Mayega (Deputy Chief of Party, RAN), and Dr. Agnes Nyabigambo (Study Coordinator), piloted the bracelet under the PEER (Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research) program with support from USAID and the National Academies of Sciences.
A consortium of partners, including SafeBangle Technologies, Makerere School of Public Health/RAN , the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Somero Uganda, implemented the rollout of the Domestic Violence Real-Time Reporting Bracelet. The initiative was supported by USAID and the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. Key contributors to the project included Dr Juliet Kiguli Roy Mayega from Makerere University School of Public Health, Dr. Kelly Robbins, Dr. Lina Stankute-Alexander, Dr. Brent Wells, Dr. Melissa Trimble, and Uganda’s Dr. Gloria Kasozi at USAID. Wisconsin Madison Medical University’s Prof. Julia Dickson-Gomez was also a collaborator.
In terms of the acceptability of the SafeBangle innovation as a solution to GBV, the team has piloted the technology with more than 1,000 users, resulting in a 63% reduction in response times
During the event, SafeBangle Team participated in the “Equity by Design” panel, sharing insights on inclusive technology development with global experts including Dorothy Gordon, Abhishek Singh from India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT, Baroness Beeban Kidron, and representatives from UNESCO and WE Hub.
About SafeBangle Technologies
SafeBangle Technologies is a Ugandan social enterprise hosted at Resilient African Network Lab focused on addressing gender-based violence through innovative safety solutions. The company combines wearable technology with an interactive web platform to provide real-time reporting of violence and physical assaults, even in areas without internet connectivity. Founded in 2018, SafeBangle operates with a mission to make safety accessible and affordable for vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
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