Health
Former Grade III Teacher graduates with a PhD: NCDC approves her Study Intervention for Adolescent Care
Sixty four-year-old Sarah Bunoti Nantono is a retired teacher and Lecturer of Psychology. She enrolled for a Ph.D. program at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in 2013 with the goal of studying early adolescent reproductive health.
Having taught for more than thirty years, Dr. Sarah Bunoti Nantono had moved up the academic ladder from being a primary school teacher to a lecturer at Kyambogo University. She believed that earning a PhD would be her ultimate goal in life. While at Kyambogo University, the second largest of the now 13 public universities in Uganda, Dr. Sarah Bunoti devoted her professional life to training social scientists, teachers and teacher educators.
Eleven years later, Dr. Bunoti Sarah Nantono is one of the 46 females of the 132 PhD graduands in the #Mak74thGrad, which begins on Monday, January 29, 2024.
She successfully earns a Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD) in Public Health from Makerere University following her in-depth research titled; “Pubertal and Child Rights Awareness, Communication, and Child Protection against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation among 10–14-year-olds in Jinja Primary Schools: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Effectiveness of a School-Based Intervention.”
Dr. Sarah Bunoti is a seasoned lecturer with a proven track record in teacher training, social sciences, and psychology. Holding an MSc in Environment from Makerere University Institute of Environment, she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Psychology from Makerere University in 1999, a Diploma in Teacher Education from ITEK in 1995, and a Grade III Primary School Teachers’ Certificate from the National Institute of Education. Beginning her career in 1981 as a primary school teacher, and later as a Teacher Trainer in the Ministry of Education in 1995, Sarah transitioned to Kyambogo University in 2000, where she currently serves as a part-time Lecturer, following her retirement. Sarah Bunoti Nantono is not only an educator but also an accomplished author, contributing to the development of the Child Rights Curriculum (CRED-PRO).
Dr. Sarah Bunoti’s PhD research examined how Jinja primary school children, aged 10 to 14, understood puberty and their rights related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The study looked at their knowledge sources, difficulties, and prospects for managing pubertal health effectively.
The 10-14 age group comprises 10% of the global population, with Uganda having a higher percentage at 16%. This period marks the onset of significant changes, known as the storm in Psychology, involving body transformations and social shifts.
According to Dr. Sarah Bunoti, timely support during these changes fosters a sense of achievement, but delays can lead to anxiety and unpreparedness. Uganda, aligning with international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, works to uphold children’s sexual well-being through policies and partnerships.
Dr. Sarah Bunoti further notes in her research that the 10-14 age group in Uganda encounters puberty during primary school without appropriate information, support, protection, or preparation for the changes, leading to psychological challenges, sexual abuse, early marriages, unplanned pregnancies, and a rise in school dropouts.
![Dr. Sarah Bunoti's PhD Defense Panel [Professor Stella Neema, Associate Professor Joseph Ssenyonga, Dr. Siu E. Godfrey, Dr. Beyeza-Kashesya Jolly and supervisors Associate Professor Lynn Atuyambe, Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye alongside the session chairperson Prof. Garimoi Orach] determining the verdict before she was declared to have passed her defense. Davies Lecture Theatre, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.](https://news.mak.ac.ug/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Makerere-CHS-SPH-74th-Graduation-Dr-Sarah-Bunoti-Jan2024-PhD-Defense-Panel-1024x683.jpg)
Busoga region, where the study was conducted faces particularly high rates of teenage pregnancies (7%) and school dropouts (91%). Children hold misconceptions driven by myths about puberty, emphasizing the lack of systematic guidance. Current Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health programs focus on older children in secondary schools, neglecting the needs of those under 15.
Traditional sources, like family discussions, have diminished, placing the responsibility on schools, which often lack the necessary resources and teacher training. As a result, many 10-14-year olds are ill-prepared for changes and lack protection against sexual abuse, highlighting the necessity for evidence-based school interventions to address this information gap.
“Previously in our African traditional setting, the Aunties, Uncles and grandparents talked about puberty and prepared children for adulthood however with the breakdown of African traditional settings, schools are expected to do the role of talking to children about puberty.
Unfortunately, schools often look at puberty as an issue that is concerned with the family and expect the family to do that but also one possible problem is that the teachers themselves don’t know what to do when they are preparing these children for that,” observes Dr. Sarah Bunoti.
Unfortunately, some stakeholders use threatening language, warnings, and punishments, contributing to risk behaviors, including sexual abuse, mood swings, and trauma among children.
“We wanted to find out what these children know about puberty, challenges they face and the support they get. We also wanted to find out from key duty bearers, these are parents and teachers, what kind of support do they give to the children and to what extent do they fulfill their obligations to protect the children against sexual abuse,” said Dr. Sarah Bunoti.
The study covered 16 primary schools purposefully selected for their diverse characteristics, including boarding status, religious affiliations, gender specifications, and geographical locations. The investigators also engaged with government officials to understand their stance on current sexual and reproductive health issues among young adolescents.
The study exposed deficiencies in children’s understanding of puberty and child rights, along with teachers’ inadequate knowledge and skills in teaching puberty.
Findings for instance revealed that kids—particularly boys—don’t often get the chance to talk candidly about puberty with adults. In all focus group conversations, the study gave boys and girls a forum to openly address their experiences, difficulties, and rights related to sexual and reproductive health. This emphasizes how important it is for all people to become widely sensitive to the issues that face kids. Stepmothers were found not to communicate about puberty because of generalization and others.
“Surprisingly, discussions on pubertal challenges elicited more extensive responses from both boys and girls compared to other topics. Boys, although engaging in perceived anti-social behavior, demonstrated a level of conscience. It became evident that children, despite being sexually and biologically mature, require guidance on navigating the impact of hormones on their sexual feelings. The blame for communication gaps often falls on parents, who may be absent due to work, divorce, or being orphaned,” says Dr. Bunoti.
Subsequently, she developed, applied, and assessed two intervention books; A children’s Resource book and a Teachers’ guide. The Randomized Control Trial demonstrated improved pubertal knowledge among children and enhanced teaching capabilities in teachers, affirming the intervention’s effectiveness. These intervention books were approved by the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and approved for teaching pubertal health and safety in primary schools nationwide.
Dr. Bunoti has recommended empowering and involving young communicators to convey Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information to 10-14-year-olds, working collaboratively with parents and teachers, a strategy she believes will narrow the generation gap and enhance effective communication. Additionally, she calls for increased awareness and participation of male parents and teachers in SRH communication and child protection.
“Parents and adults should supplement school-based SRHR education by instilling age-appropriate individual, family, and community values and skills rooted in social, cultural, and religious contexts. Provide specialized training for Senior Women Teachers and Male Teachers, and reduce their teaching load to ensure dedicated attention to this critical aspect of education,” Dr. Bunoti expertly says.
Her study, funded by Sida and supervised by Dr. Lynn Atuyambe and Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, successfully attained this recognition.
During her PhD defense, Associate Professor Lynn Atuyambe remarked, “It was a very enjoyable defense. You truly and successfully defended your PhD—now, you own your PhD.”
“I want to thank most especially your family, they’ve been part of this journey I am not guessing, I know they’ve been and am excited to see them and I like the support they have offered to mum. The highest level of education in the world is a PhD, you can do no more than that. You have reached at the saddle of your life in academia, congratulations and I wish you good luck,” said Dr. Lynn Atuyambe.
How her PhD Journey started
About a decade ago, SIDA had been consistently supporting Makerere University. However, they decided to extend their support to other public universities. When the opportunity arose, she seized it.
“I have a habit of greeting, and my children often question why I greet so much. Sometimes, it turns out to be quite beneficial. One day, I walked into my Dean Dr. J Katigo – Kaheeru’s office and greeted, asking how he was. He said, ‘Sarah, I am glad you’ve come, read this but I said Doctor I am not ready for this, but he said, ‘Sarah, you can’t give any more excuses, this is a God given opportunity, they want a concept for the SIDA Scholarships, go ahead and write a concept.’ I later met Professor Mary N Okwakol, my undergraduate Lecturer of Zoology, and Professor Albert Lutalo Bbosa, the former Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, who too reassured me of my potential to attain a PhD. Out of 26 submissions from Kyambogo University, only three concepts were selected, and fortunately, mine was one of them,” Dr. Sarah Bunoti recalls.
Once her concept was ready, Dr. Bunoti came to Makerere University, but her research topic was broad. Unfortunately, her background did not align with the faculties that typically received sponsorship from SIDA. Zoology, Psychology, Education, and Environmental Studies were her strengths, but none fell within the supported areas.
Feeling disconsolate, she sought guidance from the then Director of Research and Graduate Studies at Makerere University, Professor Elly Katunguka. “He said, ‘why should you really struggle looking for a home, go and try School of Public Health. With your background, you’ll find a home,” she recalls.
Acting on his advice, Dr. Sarah Bunoti visited the School of Public Health one morning. However, the Dean, Prof. William Bazeyo, then, was away on leave; “I spoke with Assoc. Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen, the Acting Dean at the time. I explained my situation, highlighting my expertise in teaching, psychology, and environmental studies. He encouraged me to submit my concept, assuring me that these areas were valued in public health. This led to provisional admission, and I began refining my proposal with their guidance.”
As she exited Dr. Mangeni’s office, he promptly contacted Professor Anne Katahoire, who was by then the Director of Makerere University Child Health and Development Centre and Prof. Atuyambe, who was in Nairobi for a conference and told them; “We have a prospective student here, are you willing to take her up and without hesitation, Prof. Anne said yes and Prof. Lynn said, ‘I am in Nairobi but when I come back, I want to see that student,” Sarah recollects.
Subsequently, Prof. Mangeni reached out to Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye upon recognizing the importance of the statistics component, he promptly invited her to discuss further details at the school. “In a short span, I found myself with a dedicated team of supervisors, a supportive Doctoral Committee chaired by Prof. Christopher Garimoi Orach with Prof Joseph Oonyu (RIP) and Dr. Christine K. Nalwadda, and a scholarly home in the Department of Community and Behavioral Sciences at the Makerere University School of Public Health,” Sarah Bunoti says.
Dr. Sarah Bunoti expresses gratitude to the MakSPH PhD Forum, the MakSPH family, the funder and her mother institution -Kyambogo University for the immeasurable support.
Dr. Sarah Bunoti expresses gratitude to the MakSPH PhD Forum, the MakSPH family, the funder and her mother institution -Kyambogo University for the inestimable support. She is also grateful to head teachers, teachers, children, and parents from her 16 project schools; Jinja City and District Education, Health and Community Development officers as well as the Family and Child Protection Unit of the Uganda Police Force and others for the information and support rendered to her.
“I can’t quantify the support I received from MakSPH, from PhD forum, from my supervisors you all did a good job to support me in this. In addition, SIDA did a good job because with our teaching salary, paying for my PhD would have been a problem but they paid all my tuition even when the scholarship was ending they said Sarah, we are paying for two years at ago and paid for the field’s activities,” she recalls.
She is equally grateful to everyone who provided her and her research team with useful information; Kyambogo University for assigning a teaching assistant to help her focus and her husband, Dr. Bunoti, who has promised to support her dream.
“I want to thank my family, my sister Mrs. Rebecca Lucy and her husband Eng. Dr James Muwuluke, my children. They have been there for me, my husband, Dr. Bunoti met me when I was a primary school teacher and he was a Doctor teach and told me, Sarah, I will support you until you are tired of reading and has kept his word, there are few empowered men who will want a woman to come up and get the title they hold,” she said.
“Given what I have gone through, am so excited about this achievement. My family is so excited about this. My husband is extremely excited. They have written short paragraphs about me about my resilience. I had decided not to hold any celebration but my sister and her husband says this could not pass since it is no mean achievement,” she says.
Dr. Godfrey Siu Etyang, her Ph.D. overseer, has invited her to collaborate on a parenting project at the Child Health and Development Center, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. Over the past month, she has been actively contributing to the development of a comprehensive parenting curriculum for the unit.
Dr. Bunoti anticipates scaling up the approved intervention, particularly to additional primary schools in the Busoga region and beyond and has already began talks with Ministry of Education and Sports to support children’s understanding of puberty, a sine qua non for education and parenting.
Unexpected difficulties affected Dr. Sarah Bunoti Nantono’s journey to earning her Ph.D., resulting in longer than the expected four to six years. Midway through her studies, she developed insomnia, which was an unexpected health problem. In 2020 when it appeared that she would soon graduate, the Doctoral Committee insisted that she must publish her work, and was reluctant to accept a monograph, one of the options for one to graduate with a PhD at Makerere University. Further delays were due to lengthy processes to have her manuscripts published and clearances through the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Other than these challenges, Dr. Nantono also had to repeat the entire data collection process and deal with the untimely death of Assoc. Prof. Joseph Oonyu, a key member of her doctorate committee, in October 2020. Despite these challenges, Dr. Nantono feels proud to have completed her doctorate, demonstrating her incredible endurance in the face of adversity.
Congratulations Sarah!
KAMPALA, 25 February 2026 — Higher education must move beyond awarding degrees to producing solutions for national and global crises, speakers said on Wednesday as Makerere University continued its 76th Graduation Ceremony, positioning universities as central actors in strengthening Africa’s public health capacity.
Addressing graduands on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Freedom Square, national leaders and university officials framed graduation not as a ceremonial endpoint but as an investment in workforce readiness, research leadership, and evidence-driven governance, particularly at a time when health systems across the continent face growing pressure from pandemics, demographic change, and climate-related risks.
The message resonated strongly through presentations from Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), whose graduates enter professional service amid renewed global attention to health system resilience, scientific leadership, and locally generated research.
Delivering the commencement address on Day Two of Makerere University’s 76th Graduation Ceremony, Dr. Margaret Blick Kigozi, Board Chairperson of the Makerere University Endowment Fund, reflected on her graduation in 1976 during a period of national uncertainty under then-Chancellor President Idi Amin. She recalled leaving Uganda soon after with her young family, carrying “little more than education, values, and hope,” an experience she used to frame lessons on resilience, purpose, and responsibility in uncertain times.
Challenging graduates to rethink professional success, she reminded those entering health and life sciences that their training carries extraordinary influence.
“Power does not make you important; it makes you responsible,” she said. “You will decide who is listened to and who is dismissed, who waits and who is rushed through, who feels safe and who feels small. Your education has trained you to ask better questions, but your humanity must guide the answers. Behind every chart, every case, every experiment, there is life, and life deserves care, patience, and dignity.”
Throughout the ceremony, speakers returned to a common refrain: societies increasingly depend on evidence, and universities must produce professionals capable of translating knowledge into policy, practice, and community impact.
Across the four-day congregation, the University will award 9,295 degrees and diplomas, including 2,503 Master’s degrees, 6,343 Bachelor’s degrees, 206 Postgraduate Diplomas, and 30 Diplomas. But beyond the numbers, speakers repeatedly returned to a central question on how higher education can translate academic growth into national development and health security.
On day two, graduands were presented from the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, the College of Health Sciences, and the MakSPH, the latter positioned squarely within Africa’s ongoing struggle to expand its pool of trained epidemiologists, health systems researchers, and policy leaders.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted that Africa averages just 80 researchers per million people, compared to a global average of 1,081, warning that the human resource gap remains substantial.
“Today the School of Public Health presents graduands joining the field at a time when Africa faces a critical shortage of highly trained public health leaders,” he said.
The School of Public Health presented seven PhD candidates: Aber Harriet Odonga, Komakech Henry, Lubogo David, Nakisita Olivia, Namukose Samalie, Ntaro Moses, and Osuret Jimmy. It also graduated 195 Master’s students and 29 Bachelor of Environmental Health Science graduates, including four first-class honours recipients led by Phillip Acaye with a CGPA of 4.63.
Their research spans maternal and child health, epidemic preparedness, sanitation behaviour change, nutrition systems integration, and injury prevention, areas increasingly recognised as foundational to national development rather than peripheral health concerns.
University Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga emphasized that research must move beyond academic publication into policy and implementation.
“Research plays a very vital role in the development of any community,” he said, linking university scholarship directly to Uganda’s national development agenda.
For public health education, that responsibility carries particular urgency. The COVID-19 pandemic, recurring disease outbreaks, and climate-linked health risks have exposed how deeply national stability depends on scientific capacity.
The chancellor hailed the Government of Uganda for committing UGX 30 billion through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (MakRIF).
Mak Urged on More PhDs
Representing the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, State Minister Dr. Joyce Kaducu Moriku described doctoral training as central to Uganda’s research ambitions, noting government efforts to expand funding and modernize higher education systems.
“Universities must produce more PhDs to strengthen the national research agenda,” she said, adding that competence-based reforms aim to align training more closely with societal needs.
“More PhDs also mean the university is growing in academic leadership and an increase in research. So, keep the numbers growing, especially in Science, Technology, and Engineering,” she added.
The 213 PhDs conferred this year, a record, signal more than institutional expansion but a response to structural deficits.
Africa bears approximately 25% of the global disease burden but produces a disproportionately small share of global health research. The continent’s research density remains far below global averages. In this context, each doctoral graduate becomes not merely an academic achievement but a strategic asset.
A University Responding to Its Moment
For the School of Public Health, the graduation reflects a broader evolution in how public health training is conceived. Rather than focusing solely on the treatment of disease, the field increasingly addresses systems, sanitation, nutrition, behavioural change, surveillance, prevention, and climate change, areas where research directly shapes everyday life.
Recent MakSPH-led initiatives, including national HIV impact surveys and digital health system expansion, demonstrate how academic institutions increasingly function as implementation partners to the government rather than observers.
Over the past five years, MakSPH has supported the national scale-up of electronic medical records through the CDC-funded Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (MakSPH-METs) programme, and led the Third Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA 2024–2025), the first fully Ugandan-implemented national survey of its kind.
Launched in 2020, the METs program has supported the nationwide scale-up of UgandaEMR+, transitioning thousands of facilities to secure electronic medical records and deploying critical ICT infrastructure. In March 2026, these systems will be formally transitioned to the Ministry of Health, reflecting sustainable national ownership.
KAMPALA—Three faculty members from Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) have been recognised at the Makerere University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards 2026, highlighting the School’s expanding contribution to research leadership, scientific productivity, and policy-relevant scholarship across Africa.
Associate Professor Peter Kyobe Waiswa, Associate Professor David Musoke, and Juliana Namutundu received honours during the University’s 76th Graduation Ceremony at Freedom Square, where Makerere celebrated scholars whose work has demonstrated exceptional research achievement and impact beyond academia.
The annual awards, coordinated by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), recognise faculty and staff whose scholarly output and leadership advance Makerere University’s ambition to become a research-led institution.
“This recognition celebrates sustained excellence in research productivity and contributions to knowledge that advance both national and global discourse,” Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said. “We are strengthening a culture where research does not remain confined to journals but translates into solutions for society.”
Among the university’s top researchers was Assoc. Prof. Peter Kyobe Waiswa, a health systems scientist whose work focuses on maternal, newborn, and child health. Waiswa ranked among Makerere’s overall top researchers after publishing 43 peer-reviewed papers in 2025, tying with three-time award winner Prof. Moses Kamya of the School of Medicine in the College of Health Sciences.
His research examines how health systems function at their most fragile moments, including childbirth, early life, and community-level care, addressing questions of equity, service delivery, and health system performance across Africa.
Also recognised was Dr. David Musoke, an Associate Professor of Disease Control, whose 25 publications earned distinction among senior career researchers. His work spans environmental health, community health systems, and implementation research, areas increasingly viewed as critical to preventing disease before it reaches hospitals.
In the early-career category, Juliana Namutundu received recognition for emerging research leadership, reflecting Makerere’s effort to nurture the next generation of African scholars.
Together, the awards underscored MakSPH’s growing influence within Makerere’s research ecosystem, particularly in fields linking science directly to population wellbeing.
The Research Excellence Awards were established to encourage publication in high-impact journals while reinforcing Makerere’s ambition to become a globally competitive research university. Nominations are reviewed by the Board of Research and Graduate Training, chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Sarah Ssali.
Awardees were honoured during a graduation luncheon organised by the Makerere University Convocation, the institution’s alumni and staff association, which described the event as a celebration of “excellence and inspiring impact.”
The ceremony also recognised forms of scholarship extending beyond traditional academic publishing.
Dr. Geofrey Musinguzi, a research associate at the School of Public Health, was honoured for his book My Journey with Rectal Cancer, an account of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery that blends personal testimony with public health advocacy.
Diagnosed at age 44 while a visiting scholar at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, Musinguzi sought medical care after experiencing persistent symptoms, including rectal bleeding and back pain. His treatment involved surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a year living with a colostomy bag.
Rather than keeping the experience private, he documented it publicly to challenge cancer stigma and encourage early screening. The book, launched at the School of Public Health in August 2024, highlights how lived experience can shape public health awareness alongside scientific research.
The recognition reflects a broader understanding of research impact, one that includes scholarship capable of influencing behaviour as well as policy.
Makerere’s emphasis on research excellence comes as African universities face increasing pressure to produce locally grounded evidence while competing globally for visibility and funding. For MakSPH, whose work spans disease surveillance, environmental health, and health systems research, publication output increasingly serves as both academic currency and development infrastructure.
“These awards are part of our broader effort to position Makerere as a truly research-led institution,” Nawangwe said, adding that scholarship must remain aligned with national and regional priorities.
-
General1 week agoCall for Applications: Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship 2026/2027
-
General1 week agoAdvert: Admissions for Diploma/Degree Holders under Private Sponsorship 2026/27
-
General1 week agoExtension of Application Deadline for Diploma/Degree Holders 2026/2027
-
General1 week agoMakerere University commemorates 13 transformative years of partnership with Mastercard Foundation
-
General2 weeks agoMak News Magazine: February 2026