Health
Infrastructure Expansion for MakSPH, Vital for Uganda’s Public Health System – Prof. David Peters
Kampala— Professor David Peters, Dean of the Faculty of Health at York University, Canada, has hailed Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) as a global leader and a cornerstone of Uganda’s public health system. He emphasized the school’s vital role during the launch of its new state-of-the-art auditorium on March 15, 2024, part of its ambitious expansion plans to bolster Public Health capacity, training, research, and service across Africa.
Drawing from extensive experience in global health systems, Professor Peters emphasized the critical role of Makerere University in driving forward public health initiatives in the region.
The ambitious MakSPH new home building construction broke ground on 28th February, 2020. The project that seeks to address the increasing demand for public health education and research, with an estimated cost of $10 million USD.
While making a case for the building, the Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda then, Henk Jan Bakker, announced the Dutch contribution to a tune of $420,000 through the Hague based Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education Nuffic and through the SET-SRHR project at Makerere University. This contribution was channeled to towards the construction of a state-of-the-art Auditorium, which is part of building design. Infrastructure forms the foundation of a healthy community and indeed as noted by Ambassador Henk, “Public Health is not only Uganda’s concern but also a global epidemic thus worth investing in.”
“I want to say how grateful I am to have been able to work with colleagues at Makerere University for now over two decades,” said Professor Peters.
Adding that; “The School of Public Health is responsible for educating and training critically needed public health workers for conducting critical science-based research that really addresses the origins of public health problems as well as for the prevention and intervention for diseases and disabilities and because it strengthens the practice of public health through knowledge translation.”
Professor Peters highlights the School of Public Health’s critical role in addressing historical and current public health challenges, including population growth, urbanization, inequity, justice, commercial influence, climate effects, and technological changes.
“And this is huge cost to the population, whether it be a maternal child, chronic diseases or aging, but also on epidemics and the costs, literally the catastrophic costs of health spending,” he said.
For Prof. Peter, while ideas on medicine and disease have really spread across countries and regions for millennia, efforts at public health and global level are really relatively recent from the last few centuries.
In the 19th century, historical concerns revolved around epidemics, famine, and conflict, closely linked to trade and environmental disruptions impacting industry and agriculture. This prompted nations to collaborate in safeguarding trade and preventing disease spread, laying the groundwork for international health regulations and the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Global public health education emerged from these efforts, rooted in scientific advancements like the germ theory and influenced by colonialism. Global health initiatives aimed to address health issues in other populations, with the Rockefeller Foundation playing a significant role in supporting and establishing schools of public health. The first, Johns Hopkins, founded in 1916, paved the way for numerous others worldwide, totaling around 35 new schools of public health, alongside several medical schools.
In modern global health, scientific advancements applied in resource-limited settings have saved countless lives. However, Professor Peters contends that this focus on biomedicine and technology, while successful in tackling specific health issues, often neglects broader local health system challenges.
He further notes that vertical and horizontal approaches, though effective at times, fail to address the comprehensive needs of communities and systems. Additionally, the dominance of Western institutions in global health perpetuates a crisis-driven mentality, prioritizing quick wins over sustainable, community-centered strategies.
This approach, exemplified during crises like the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, sidelines long-term planning and neglects social determinants of health.
Dr. Peters, also the former senior public health specialist with the World Bank argues that while science drives progress, it comes at the expense of sustainability, coherence, and holistic health approaches, favoring curative care over prevention, a perception he believes needs to change.
Looking ahead in global public health education, Professor Peters acknowledges Makerere University‘s leadership in this field and its ongoing commitment. He highlights the university’s efforts to tailor institutional design and curriculum to local needs, particularly evident in the Master of Public Health program at Makerere School of Public Health, including distance learning options.
Emphasizing the need for innovative teaching methods, such as active learning and interdisciplinary approaches, Professor Peters stresses the importance of practical experience and IT integration.
Renowned for his collaborative efforts in advancing health policy and systems research, implementation science, and enhancing institutional capacity in health systems, Professor Peters advocates for professionalism grounded in competencies. He champions collaboration among health and education stakeholders, policymakers, communities, professional organizations, and academia to drive the evolution of global public health education.
“You need to be socially relevant, coherent and accountable. This does mean that physical infrastructure is needed. Our twinning operation between Makerere and Uganda. We need the buildings for teaching, community convening and group work, but also for research wet labs, specimen storage, computing, for use of big data and for the IT infrastructure,” said Prof. Peters.
Learning between collaboration across institutions and linking global to local is really critical. He contends that Makerere School of Public Health is an essential to the public health system and a leader in this as well.
Taking inspiration from a program at the College of Health Sciences, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which aimed to enhance all health schools at Johns Hopkins and Makerere University, Professor Peters emphasizes the broader scope of the initiative beyond mere technological advancements.
Dubbed the “grander challenge,” the project focused on institution-building, innovation, and human resource development for sustainable healthcare delivery. Makerere University seeks to be a transformative institution, fostering academic excellence and innovation while driving positive health outcomes in Uganda and the broader East Africa region.
“See the Makerere School of Public Health as transformational and being able to develop and generate knowledge, develop capabilities at individual levels as well as the leadership and organizational levels to model best practices and to support organizations and to develop partnerships to stimulate change,” he says.
He notes that there is a strong investment case for infrastructure at Makerere University. “It provides education training, it conducts research, it strengthens practice. If you see it as an essential part of infrastructure, here’s something that colleagues in North America put together around, this is around the National Academy of Sciences saying that ‘investment in schools of public health should be seen as analogous to government support for public goods like national defense and transportation infrastructure. It is that important.’”
According to Professor Peters, a global review found similar things how what they do in terms of education and research but also towards sustainable development goals and what it does globally. And that you need funding, human resources, agency, collaborations, and infrastructure in being able to do that.
“We need your time, your talent and your treasure to be able to contribute to Makerere School of Public Health. I want to thank you and to finally say that Makerere School of Public Health needs you, but we all need Makerere School of Public Health,” Professor David Peters.
In 2021, the USAID ASHA Program awarded $1.1 million to create an augmented reality solution for Makerere University‘s new School of Public Health. Partnering with Johns Hopkins University under the leadership of Prof. David Peters, this funding aims to launch the Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Global Health.
Since 2000, Johns Hopkins has engaged in 48 collaborative research and training projects valued at over $6 million, spanning various fields such as doctoral training, medical education, laboratory training, and health systems development, including projects like the Asha Grant.
Caitlin Kennedy, a Professor of International Health, Social, and Behavioral Interventions at Johns Hopkins, expressed excitement about the university’s involvement in the building collaboration and eagerly anticipates exploring the new space and further nurturing partnerships cultivated over the years.
“I would like to send a sincere thanks to the Asha Grant and USAID for the amazing financial support. I hope others will see projects like this, and be inspired to provide more funding for public health infrastructure,” said Prof. Caitlin.
Caitlin Kennedy extends gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the building to shape, from the visionaries to the diligent planners and builders. She also thanks the faculty, staff, and students who will transform it into a vibrant learning environment.
“We at Johns Hopkins are really looking forward to continuing to do great public health collaborations with you in that space for many years to come. Thank you so much. Everyone and congratulations enjoy the space.”
Funds raised so far
Currently, we’ve raised a total of $4,804,314, but we still face a deficit of $5,195,686 for the construction. We’re grateful for contributions from various sources: MakSPH Staff Community ($46,043), MakSPH Departments ($144,972), Private Institutions/Companies ($52,528), Other Individuals ($131,949), and a generous donation of $675,000 from Makerere University. Additionally, MakSPH has committed $2,133,822 from internally generated funds, while the Rockefeller Foundation contributed $100,000 towards furnishing the auditorium. Your support is crucial in making a meaningful impact and driving transformation. Join us on this journey by contributing through https://sph.mak.ac.ug/givedonate.
Health
Mak and UNICEF Uganda Sign MoU to Strengthen Child Rights through Research, Training, and Innovation
Makerere University (Mak) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that launches a two-year, renewable partnership aimed at advancing child rights and well-being through rigorous research, capacity building, and policy-driven innovation.
The agreement was signed on Thursday, 14 August 2025, by Makerere Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe and UNICEF Uganda Representative Dr. Robin Nandy in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom at Makerere’s Main Building.
The MoU enlists a focused collaboration on generating child-focused data and research to inform policy and program design, analyzing how health, nutrition, education, and protection initiatives affect children, and strengthening the social sector workforce through targeted training, curricula, and performance standards.
It also emphasizes knowledge management, wide dissemination of findings to stakeholders, policy and legislative advocacy for child rights, and active student engagement through internships, skilling opportunities, and communities of practice. The renewed partnership is designed to bolster evidence-based policy-making and drive program improvements that contribute to Uganda’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
“The signing of this MoU deepens Makerere’s long-standing commitment to the well-being of Uganda’s children and Africa’s future,” said Vice Chancellor Nawangwe. “I thank Dr. Nandy for his leadership and for the continued collaboration that will expand our capacity to deliver research with immediate, practical benefits for communities.”
UNICEF’s Dr. Nandy stressed that the partnership reflects UNICEF’s global mission to protect and promote every child’s rights while translating research into policy and action. He highlighted Makerere’s proven strength in research leadership as a critical asset in the effort to generate robust evidence for government decision-making and resource allocation.
“This partnership shows our commitment to combine academic knowledge with practical results,” said Dr. Nandy. “Using Makerere’s research skills to create important information about child welfare issues and solutions, making sure that every project we start is based on solid data and aims to safeguard and support children’s basic rights.”
The partnership builds on Makerere University’s established research strengths and UNICEF’s global mandate to protect children. It complements longstanding collaborative work through Mak’s School of Public Health (MakSPH) and other faculties, reinforcing a broader university-wide commitment to evidence-based policy and community impact.
Since 2016, Makerere has participated in more than 30 UNICEF-supported research projects, which emphasize a deep mutual trust and shared mission. The Vice Chancellor noted that this history laid a robust foundation for the new MoU while also underlining opportunities to broaden collaboration beyond the health sector.
Among the notable prior initiatives is MakSPH’s joint work with UBOS and UNICEF, supported by EU funding, on the first comprehensive Food Security and Nutrition Assessment in ten districts of Northern Uganda and the West Nile region (2019). The findings of this work informed targeted nutrition programs and strategies to combat malnutrition among vulnerable populations, shaping policy directions at local and national levels.
In 2023, MakSPH, in collaboration with the National Planning Authority (NPA) and UNICEF, along with FHI360 and the Ministry of Health, produced an updated Situation Analysis of Newborn Health in Uganda. The document has guided the ministry’s national strategy development, including costed investments to improve newborn health across the country.
Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean of MakSPH, hailed the partnership as a continuation of a long-standing relationship, noting that UNICEF’s support was instrumental in establishing the Makerere University Centre of Excellence for Maternal Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) in 2013.
“It’s such a delight, a great honor to finally get to this event where we can formalize our partnership with UNICEF. The partnership between UNICEF and Makerere has been a long-standing one, and we have worked together for decades, which has driven critical research and informed national policies,” she said. She emphasized that both institutions share a passion for tackling adolescent health challenges, particularly early pregnancies and marriages, which remain persistent barriers to progress.
The MoU extends collaboration beyond the School of Public Health. The Vice Chancellor noted productive partnerships across other departments, including the Department of Journalism and Communication and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, emphasizing how diverse disciplines can contribute to evidence-based policy and community well-being.
Another important example is the Caring for the Caregiver (CFC) intervention led by the Makerere Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER) in the College of Education and External Studies (CEES). This was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF Uganda, and international partners. The evaluation examined caregiver emotional wellbeing, social support, and parenting stress in rural Uganda, contributing to the growing evidence base for nurturing care in resource-constrained settings.
Also, the School of Statistics and Planning in the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has partnered with UNICEF to tackle urgent socio-economic and public health challenges. A key example is the Socio-economic Impact Assessment of the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Mubende and Kassanda districts, which examined household-level shocks, community coping strategies, and the wider disruption of livelihoods. The study’s findings have informed national policy dialogue and action planning, emphasizing that there must be stronger preparedness measures.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the university’s broader engagement with UNICEF as a driver of research, innovation, and community outreach benefits children and families throughout Uganda.
For Dr. Nandy the partnership will support student involvement in real-world operational and programmatic work, creating pipelines for young scholars to contribute to child welfare initiatives.
Both parties expressed a shared vision of translating research findings into concrete actions that strengthen child protection and opportunities for learning and development. The collaboration is expected to yield new efforts for effective interventions, sharpen the policy dialogue, and catalyze scalable innovations that improve the daily lives of Uganda’s children.
Health
Makerere University College of Health Sciences marks Centenary with expansion of Super-Specialized healthcare Training
On 30th July 2025, Makerere University hit a milestone in specialized healthcare training as it proudly graduated 16 fellows from their Paediatric Hematology and Oncology (PHO) Fellowship Programme. These dedicated physicians who successfully completed a two-year rigorous fellowship program will serve as elite experts in treating life-threatening blood disorders and cancers in children.
The pioneering fellowship program of Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) commenced in 2016. This cohort included fellows from Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Malawi, Nigeria, and Congo which enhances Africa’s capacity to deliver highly specialized care, promising improved survival rates and quality of life for countless young patients.
In his address to the congregation, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor – Makerere University emphasized the university’s guiding vision of research-led, noting that the institution remains committed to producing highly skilled professionals who address Uganda’s and Africa’s evolving health challenges while acknowledging the resilient hard work of fellows during training and the vital sacrifice as well as support from family and friends.
Prof. Nawangwe recounted Makerere’s significant historical contributions to public health and medical research recalling the College of Health Sciences’ past achievements, including it’s 1964 recognition for lymphoma research leading to nomination for a Nobel Prize for the discovery of the cells that cause the cancer of the lymphoma. He cited the university’s instrumental efforts and contribution in combatting disease on the continent like the Ebola, Marburg, Nodding Disease and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
He outlined Uganda’s demographic realities and the resultant increase in health challenges with exponential growth of a young population alongside the alarming statistics of childhood cancer and sickle cell disease. With an estimated “7,000 children and adolescents cancer with less than 50% access in treatment,” and over “20,000 babies are born with sickle cell every year,” the need for specialized care is critical, he said. Professor Nawangwe also stressed the urgency of the situation, “It is reported that many of the deaths from cancer and blood disorders are preventable,” stating, “We must produce enough doctors to manage the disease burden we have.”
Prof. Nawangwe recognized the instrumental role of partners such as Texas Children’s Global and Baylor College of Medicine, among others, who supported MakCHS in setting up the PHO fellowship that began in 2016. He underlined the success of the program, which has since trained 24 paediatricians serving as healthcare leaders across Africa.
In his remarks, Professor Bruce Kirenga, Principal – MakCHS highlighted the institution’s century of medical training excellence and its forward-looking vision as the College holds its third graduation ceremony of the PHO Fellowship Program. He emphasized MakCHS’ commitment to advancing healthcare in the region, adding that this future is geared towards more scientific research, innovation and cutting-edge medical care.
Professor Kirenga proudly announced that the fellowship program is the first of their sub-specialized training programs. He revealed the expansion of these crucial programs, noting that the college currently offers three additional sub-specialized training pathways: Neonatology, Interventional Radiology, and Fetal and Maternal Medicine, with two more programs under review; in this regard, Professor Kirenga extended gratitude to partners and collaborators, affirming the college’s unwavering dedication to its mission.
Representing the Director General Health of Services and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi – Commissioner for Child and New-born Health highlighted the vital role of the new specialists in transforming Uganda’s healthcare landscape. Dr. Mugahi emphasized the graduation as not only fellows’ dedication, but also an important step forward for Uganda’s healthcare system citing the critical need for their expertise.
He detailed the alarming burden of childhood cancer in Uganda, with 1,500 to 3,000 new cases reported annually, yet only 30% access specialized treatment, resulting in tragically low survival rates of 20-30% beyond three years. In response, the Ministry of Health is strengthening its partnership with Makerere University, recognizing that “the role of research, the role of academia is well highlighted and emphasized,” and crucial for producing skilled professionals.
Dr. Mugahi announced the government’s strategic plans to absorb these new specialists, actively developing human resource structures and mobilizing resources to utilize their skills nationwide. He also revealed ongoing efforts to decentralize cancer care through regional centres, citing the operational facility in Gulu and planned sites in Arua, Mbarara, and Mbale, all of which will strongly need the fellows’ expertise to serve our population. He concluded by reiterating the core mission: “Our mission is clear. We now have the inputs, you’re one of the inputs of providing Uganda with the best possible quality of care.” He stated.
Encouragingly, Dr. Rosemary Byanyima Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) revealed that the Hospital is charting a new course towards offering highly specialized medical services, emphasizing that they can only offer that when they have people who have trained as super-specialists.
“This strategic move is predicated to building a robust local human resource, specifically super-specialists, whose rigorous training pathway extends beyond a first degree and master’s to include a specialized fellowship. The traditional approach of training abroad is very expensive” Dr. Byanyima noted. To overcome this, Mulago is actively working with collaborators to build the capacity to train locally. This innovative model involves sponsoring a select few for training abroad, who then return to establish and lead local programs, significantly enhancing the hospital’s self-sufficiency.
“Mulago is uniquely positioned as an ideal training ground due to its infrastructure. We have the equipment. And of course, there are many patients who require the service.” Dr. Byanyima said. She noted that while Mulago provides the environment, it collaborates with accredited training institutions like Makerere University for academic awards.
The benefits of local training are multifaceted; it not only builds internal capacity but also allows the hospital to continuously identify and address service delivery gaps in infrastructure, equipment, medicines, and sundries, Dr. Byanyima added. Local training is also cheaper and eases the very strenuous emotional burden on advanced-age trainees with families, who would otherwise have to relocate abroad for years. Crucially, as these experts train, they simultaneously offer services, with patients directly benefiting from their evolving skills. In addition, she noted, Mulago leverages collaborations to acquire essential resources, while simultaneously lobbying the government for sustained funding to ensure the long-term continuity of the services.
Addressing the escalating challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer and diabetes, Dr. Byanyima acknowledged the continuously increasing number of patients, necessitating a proportional increase in human resource infrastructure, medicines and surgeries to be able to meet the demand. She also stated Mulago’s role in health education at the tertiary level, empowering patients to disseminate crucial health information within their families and communities, complementing primary healthcare prevention efforts by the Ministry.
In his speech, Dr. Joseph Lubega, a Children’s Cancer and Blood disease Specialist and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, USA, recognized the significant advancements in child healthcare across Africa with specialists trained in children’s cancer and sickle cell disease.
Dr. Lubega emphasized the profound impact of PHO Fellowship Program on patient outcomes stating that ‘whereas when we started this work, most children with cancer anywhere in Africa would die within a month of a diagnosis, now most of them are cured.’ Despite this progress, he stressed the imperative to expand reach beyond major cities like Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam, aiming for comprehensive coverage across all countries, especially given the much bigger challenge posed by sickle cell disease. The ultimate goal, he explained, is for the specialists to train lower health workers in their countries, ensuring every child is reached.
Challenging the conventional focus on infectious diseases in Africa, Dr. Lubega advocated for greater attention to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), saying, “Sickle cell disease is one of the most common non-communicable diseases. It is part of African DNA, 2% of new-borns get this diseases.” He noted that unlike acute infections, NCDs demand lifelong follow-up and community-based care, necessitating a re-evaluation of health system training.
One of the fellows, Dr. Ankunda Siyadora who works with Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, noted that the fellowship will revolutionize the landscape of childhood cancer and blood disorder care in Western Uganda. In her words, “my passion was ignited during internship at St. Mary’s Hospital in Gulu, Uganda. I witnessed numerous children suffering from advanced Burkitt’s lymphoma, often receiving only palliative comfort. That made me a bit sad, but also built the passion I have for paediatric haematology.” she recounted.
Motivated by the stark contrast between 80% survival rates in Western countries and the grim reality she encountered, Dr. Ankunda’s desire is to change the narrative that every child with cancer or blood disorder should die or be in pain. Her fellowship, she believes, will lessen the burden by ensuring every child who has a cancer or a blood disorder, gets an early diagnosis and then get the right treatment for their disease.
Addressing the common misconception that childhood cancers stem from environmental or lifestyle factors, she clarified that “in children, it’s more about the genetics, it’s just a mistake, something went wrong in the genetics, it’s nothing to do with the family or the environment, majority, close to 99% of childhood cancers, are a result of spontaneous mutation.” While a small percentage (1-3%) can be inherited, like retinoblastoma, most cases are simply “bad luck, nothing to do with the environment, nothing to do with your parents.” This understanding is crucial for families, alleviating guilt and redirecting focus to early intervention.
The experts will be pivotal in improving care for children with blood disorders and cancers, addressing the country’s high childhood cancer burden and with the Ministry of Health planning will integrate these specialists into the healthcare system and establish regional cancer centres. This in turn will increase access to specialized care, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and blood disorders in Uganda and beyond.
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