General
Makerere University Hospital Develops RTI Mobile App and Information Centre
Makerere University students, staff and the general public will have easy and free access to Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) health services courtesy of a new mobile application developed by Makerere University Hospital.
The Mak RTI mobile App launched on Friday 3rd May 2024 can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store. The App enables users to learn more about reproductive tract infections, chat with the health care providers, book an appointment with a doctor as well as access other health services.
Makerere University Hospital has also established the RTI Information Centre dedicated to addressing matters pertaining to reproductive tract infections among Ugandans. To supplement the RTI App, Mak hospital has established an RTI clinic which will be open every Monday to provide services to those in need.
In Uganda, a number of people from the age of 15 to 49 years suffer from Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs). RTIs are defined as infections of the genital organs and include Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), endogenous infections and iatrogenic infections. Endogenous infections such as vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis are not sexually transmitted and can occur among people who have never had a sexual relationship. On the other hand, iatrogenic infections are caused by organisms introduced into the genital tract while doing improper medical procedures for instance unsafe abortions. Research at all levels indicates that if left untreated, RTIs are harmful to a person’s body and can lead to complications some of which may manifest later in life.
According to Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Director of Makerere University Hospital and the Principal Investigator of this research project, some of the symptoms of RTIs such as itching in the private body parts and/or experiencing pain when urinating, and/or severe pain during one’s menstrual cycle seem minor, but once left untreated, they advance into health complications such as blocking the fallopian tubes, affecting the ovary and womb, infertility among women, failure of the urinary system and in some cases cancer.
Prof. Byamugisha revealed that the Mak RTI App was developed to address the information gap on RTIs among the community. He observed that some Ugandans (15-49 years), do not have access to the right information about RTIs while others fear to talk about these types of infections because they affect reproductive organs or private body parts. He also mentioned the stigma associated with such diseases for instance referring to them as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), and yet some of them even attack young people who have never had sexual relations. For example, Syphilis can be transmitted from the mother to the unborn child. Prof. Byamugisha pointed out that to avoid the stigmatization, such infections are better classified as Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs).
To address the information gap on RTIs, the Principal Investigator Prof. Byamugisha together with a team of researchers from other disciplines at Makerere University wrote a concept which they submitted to the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) funded by the Government of Uganda. Upon receipt of the funding, the research project team embarked on the development of the Mak RTI App and Mak RTI Information Centre. The Project Research team consists of: Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Prof. Sarah Ssali, Dr. Edith Nakku Joloba, Mr. Rogers Kamulegeya, Ms. Ritah Namisango, Dr. Solomon Aleper, Dr. Mukasa David Christopher and Dr. Hassan Mulema.
“We developed the app mainly to help the public access information about these infections. We feel this information should reach many people and that is why we found it wise to have the Mak RTIs Information Centre,’’ the Principal Investigator said.
Prof. Byamugisha emphasized the need for individuals to seek medical care and treatment as soon as any symptom related to RTIs is detected. He thanked the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) led by Mr. Samuel Paul Mugabi for playing a central role in the development of the Mak RIT App.
The Mak RTI Information Centre and Mobile App were officially launched by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-DVCAA, Prof. Umar Kakumba represented by the Principal of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Prof. Damalie Nakanjako.
The DVCAA commended the Director, Makerere University Hospital for bringing on board a multi-disciplinary research team to address the information gap on RTIs and health services in general. He also applauded the University Hospital for continuously coming up with health products and innovations in line with the University’s digitalization agenda. He underscored that the Mak RTI App and Mak RTI Information Centre would enable students, staff and the public to access the right information on RTIs and health services in general from any part of the country.
“As I launch the Mak RTI Information Centre and Mak RTI App, I am pleased to note that most disciplines such as health, social sciences, gender, communication and the media have participated in the processes leading to this research output. Matters of health should not be left to the doctors alone. Health should be a matter of concern for all of us. We can never have perfect health if we do not collaborate and bring different teams together,” said the Principal.
Prof. Nakanjako said the College of Health Sciences takes the lead in the utilisation of government funds to support research and innovation at Makerere University. She congratulated the Mak Hospital, which is under the College of Health Sciences, for conducting the research and coming up with the Mak RTI App.
She further highlighted that the College of Health Sciences exists to provide transformative education and research to meet societal needs. “Research is mainly to solve problems in the community, therefore, the Mak RTI App and Information Centre is an example of research that supports the community,” she elaborated. She appreciated the Ministry of Health for continually working with the College of Health Sciences to advance research in Uganda and beyond.
On behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, Assistant Commissioner Reproductive and Infant Health, applauded the Makerere University Hospital, the research team and DICTS for developing the Mak RTI App. “In this digital era, this is what is expected. The young people are more digitally oriented. I also commend the shift from the term STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) to RTI (Reproductive Tract Infections),” he said.
Dr. Mugahi expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Health to integrate the Mak RTI App into its digital products and services. He indicated that the Ministry of Health already has a hotline, and this would be linked with the University Hospital RTI App.
Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Principal Public Relations Officer, and a Member of the Research team re-affirmed that the Mak RTI App presents a convenient and user friendly approach for students, staff and general hospital to access health services at the University Hospital. She urged all attendees to share information about the Mak RTI app widely so that it can reach everyone in need of RTI services.
On behalf of DICTS, Mr. Juma Katongole, the Principal Information Systems Administrator said that the development of the Mak RTI App is anchored in the DICTS mandate of working with the different units at the University to optimize and automate all university business processes/services. Mr. Katongole also assured the student leaders who attended the launch that the information received through the Mak RTI App will be treated with confidentiality and accessed by only the University Medical Team with the mandate to attend to students, staff and the public in general.
Responding to questions from student leaders from the respective Colleges and Halls of Residence, the Mak RTI Project Coordinator Dr. Hassan Mulema emphasized that the App is very secure and as such, users should not be worried about any information leakages. The medical team at Makerere University Hospital will continue to uphold matters of privacy, confidentiality and the ethical standards that govern the medical profession when using the Mak RTI App to provide services to students, staff and the general public.
The Mak Students’ Guild who attended the launch appreciated the University Hospital for coming up with the Mak RTI App, which is bringing the health services closer to the people. The student leaders pledged to popularize the Mak RTI App to the University community.
The launch of the Mak RTI App that was witnessed by medical practitioners, the Ministry of Health, Mak Student Leaders, Public Relations Office, DICTS, Journalists and staff from Makerere University Hospital was moderated by Ms Ritah Namisango assisted by Dr. David Mukasa.
Important notes: The Mak RTI App is a one-stop center for reproductive tract infection and other health services available at Makerere University hospital. The app enables users easily talk to medical officers for any services they may be in need of. The app is currently available for android users and can be downloaded on the Google Play Store using this link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.makererehospital.rti
General
From Campus to Career: Makerere Advancement Office, 91st Guild and the DFCU Foundation Equip Students with Financial and Employability Skills
On 4th December, 2025, over 200 final-year students gathered at the School of Pharmacy Auditorium for the highly engaging Career & Financial Literacy Symposium, hosted by the 91st Students’ Guild, in partnership with the Makerere Advancement Office and the DFCU Foundation.
The symposium centred on student advancement through strategic partnership, convening students, administrators and development partners for a practical conversation on career readiness, financial literacy, employability, and personal development.
Advancement Through Partnerships
Speaking on behalf of the Makerere Advancement Office, Mr Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Advancement Officer, underscored the importance of partnerships such as the one with DFCU Foundation. He highlighted their importance in equipping students with marketplace skills and opportunities vital for individual growth after University.
He reflected on the university journey as a formative period for ideas, innovation, and lifelong relationships, noting that:
“University is where impressions are made, and future networks are born. The friendships, character, and collaborations you develop here become foundations for careers, enterprises and leadership later in life.”
Mr. Uwihanganye encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, arguing that the emerging workforce is driven by technology, multi-tasking ability and idea generation rather than traditional single-path employment. He challenged students to build businesses, use digital platforms productively, and regard employment as only one income stream, not the only one.
The Student Perspective — Discipline, Skills and Trust
Speaking on student growth and personal development, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, Deputy Dean of Students, highlighted the realities facing new graduates, especially those entering the job market for the first time. With humour and honesty, he urged students to approach growth intentionally and responsibly.
He called for delayed gratification, financial discipline and long-term decision-making, reminding students that wealth is built, not wished for. He emphasised the importance of skills beyond academic papers, stating that students must be equipped to create value, adapt, learn continuously, and gain competence relevant to modern work demands.
Dr. Rugyema underscored that trust, integrity and reliability remain the most non-negotiable pillars of professional advancement.
“Let people trust you enough to lend you an opportunity. Be a person who delivers. Your reputation is currency; it travels to rooms you are not in.” He noted
Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
The keynote training session was delivered by Mr. Simon Omara, Business Advisor representing the DFCU Foundation, who walked students through a highly practical presentation on financial planning, savings culture, credit management, record-keeping, career positioning and entrepreneurship.
With more than 10,000 graduates annually and less than 35% securing employment within the first year, Mr. Omara challenged students to practice financial and career ownership early. His presentation explored:
Key Competencies Students Must Build
- Financial management with a focus on budgeting, saving, and investing early
- Career readiness, CV development, interview skills, and personal branding
- Entrepreneurship and income diversification
- Record keeping and credit management
- Professional conduct and workplace preparation
He reminded students that the future belongs to those who are financially literate, skilled, trusted and entrepreneurial. Through relatable examples and actionable frameworks such as the 70–20–10 rule, the 7-second CV scan, and the 90-day post-graduation growth plan, Mr. Omara equipped participants with practical knowledge they could act upon immediately.
Why This Symposium Matters
This event stands as a testament to the power of partnership-driven student advancement, a core mandate of the Makerere Advancement Office. By convening industry partners like DFCU Foundation, the University continues to ensure that students graduate not only with knowledge, but with tools and readiness for opportunity.
The symposium strengthened linkages between academia and the labour market, expanded students’ perspective on financial independence, and emphasised the value of entrepreneurship, networks and character in shaping future leadership
The Makerere Advancement Office remains committed to facilitating opportunities that empower students to thrive beyond the gates of the University, through partnerships, mentorship, capacity-building, and exposure to real-world skillsets.
“ A degree alone is no longer enough. With partnership, preparation and purpose, our students can build futures anchored in knowledge, opportunity and resilience.” Mr Awel Uwihanganye noted during his remarks.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Makerere Advancement Office
Makerere University on 3rd December, 2025 hosted the Tumusiime Mutebile Annual Lecture, a tradition established to honour the life and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, an outstanding alumnus and former Governor of the Bank of Uganda who passed away in 2022. The lecture not only reflects on his remarkable contribution to Uganda’s economic leadership, but also highlights how innovation, resilience, and intergenerational vision can shape Africa’s future.
This year’s edition was anchored on three key pillars—intergenerational leadership, economic resilience, and the power of innovation—themes that defined Prof. Mutebile’s career and continue to influence national development. Through this annual series, the University upholds his memory while also celebrating other African leaders whose work has left a lasting mark on the continent, using their legacies to inspire thoughtful dialogue, policy reflection, and the next generation of transformative thinkers.
Celebrating an Enduring Legacy
In her remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarah Ssali, reflected on Prof. Mutebile’s lifelong commitment to excellence, integrity, and the transformative power of education. She highlighted his journey from a student leader at Makerere to one of the country’s most influential economic thinkers, noting how his leadership in monetary policy, fiscal reform, and economic stabilization reshaped Uganda’s economic trajectory.
Prof. Ssali emphasized that this public lecture series not only honours Mutebile’s legacy but also bridges academia and practice—challenging students, scholars, and national leaders to pursue knowledge that serves the public good. She expressed gratitude to the Bank of Uganda under Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, dfcu Bank, the GRO Foundation, the Mutebile family, and the Advancement Office for their continued support in sustaining a platform that nurtures economic thought leadership and inspires future generations.
Rt. Hon. Emeritus Amama Mbabazi, a lifelong friend and contemporary of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, delivered a deeply personal reflection during the lecture. He recalled their shared beginnings as young student leaders at Makerere, their early political activism, and the historical moments that shaped both their lives and the nation. Speaking as both confidant and colleague, he emphasized Mutebile’s disciplined approach to economic policy, his unwavering belief in strong, accountable institutions, and his commitment to evidence-based, long-term decision making. Mbabazi outlined three pillars of Mutebile’s legacy—policy integrity, institutional strength, and leadership that prepares the next generation—values he affirmed are central to the work of the Tumusiime Foundation, which he now chairs.
He underscored the critical role of the private sector in Africa’s transformation, stressing the need for productivity-driven economies, skilled young people, and policy ecosystems that encourage innovation. He further called for intergenerational leadership that deliberately transfers knowledge, builds enduring institutions, and creates real opportunities for young Africans to lead. In closing, he urged academia, policymakers, and industry to work in partnership, noting that Africa’s progress depends on disciplined leadership, investment in human capital, and a shared commitment to building a future stronger than the present.
Fiscal Policies that have stood the test of time
The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, honored the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile with a heartfelt tribute, praising him as “a great tree whose roots ran deep beneath the soil of this nation, nourishing all who followed.” He noted that Uganda continues to benefit from the “shade” of the policies Mutebile planted during his 21-year tenure—policies that stabilized the economy, strengthened institutions, and protected the financial system through multiple crises. He highlighted Mutebile’s role in restoring price stability through cash budgeting, bringing inflation down from triple digits to single digits, guiding the country through the 2008 global financial crisis with disciplined monetary policy, and maintaining public trust during the 2011 inflation spike through clear and transparent communication.
Dr. Atingi-Ego also credited him for steering Uganda safely through the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing liquidity support for banks, credit relief for borrowers, and targeted foreign exchange interventions. Reflecting on Mutebile’s long-term impact, the Governor remarked, “These are the ideas he planted—he never lived to enjoy the shade of the tree, but today, the country rests under it.” He further celebrated Mutebile’s commitment to innovation, citing the 2016 amendments to the Financial Institutions Act that unlocked agency banking, bancassurance, and Islamic banking—reforms that today anchor Uganda’s impressive financial inclusion gains.
Intergenerational Leadership blends agility and emotional intelligence
Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira delivered a compelling and deeply reflective keynote, grounding the theme “Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation” in both history and lived institutional experience. He expressed serious concern that although Africa is the world’s youngest continent—with over 65% of its population below 35—its systems continue to sideline young people from leadership and national decision-making, even as they are repeatedly called “leaders of tomorrow.” He argued that this generational exclusion is not merely unfair but dangerous, warning that nations cannot secure economic resilience while locking out the very demographic best equipped to navigate a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
Drawing on African proverbs, global case studies, and personal anecdotes from Makerere and national institutions, he demonstrated how younger generations bring idealism, agility, innovation, and risk-taking—qualities essential for competitiveness—while older generations contribute emotional intelligence, institutional memory and a heightened sense of danger. He emphasized that progress requires blending these strengths through deliberate structures: fair representation of youth in boards and executive spaces, shared decision-making, reverse mentorship, and an institutional culture that values every generational perspective.
Dr. Tusubira also highlighted the urgent need for education reform, criticizing the continent’s entrenched “learning to pass exams” culture and calling for systems that cultivate creativity, problem-solving, and technical capability. He cautioned that without investing in human capital, digital literacy, and inclusive innovation ecosystems, Africa risks losing the very foundation of future competitiveness. His message was clear and powerful: intergenerational leadership is not optional—it is a survival strategy for institutions, businesses, and nations, especially in an era where, as he quoted, “it is not the strongest who survive, but those most responsive to change.”
The lecture was further enriched by an engaging panel discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences. He opened the discussion by deliberately centering today’s students and emerging leaders, framing the session as an intellectual reflection on the life, values and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile. He positioned the lecture’s theme — Shaping Africa’s Future: Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation — as urgent and practical, and introduced a cross-disciplinary panel whose expertise mirrors that urgency: Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira, Mr. Charles Mudiwa the Managing Director Dfcu Bank, and Prof. Faisal Buyinza the Ag. Dean, School of Economics.
Prof. Bbaale’s moderation enabled panelists to offer guidance on structural and cultural barriers to youth inclusion, the role of institutions in building resilience, and how academia, industry and policy can work together to turn innovation into jobs and scalable solutions — all the while reserving time for direct audience engagement and practical policy takeaways. Collectively, the panelists urged dismantling age-biased barriers and credential rigidities, creating new entry points and “tables” for youth leadership, scaling finance and training for startups and agribusiness, reforming pedagogy to prioritise skills and creativity, and deepening public-private-academic partnerships so innovation becomes inclusive growth rather than isolated experimentation.
The Family’s heartfelt appreciation
Mrs. Betty Tumusiime-Mutebile delivered heartfelt closing remarks, offering gratitude on behalf of the family and the Tumusiime-Mutebile Foundation. Speaking with deep emotion, she reflected on the late Professor’s character—his honesty, humility, hard work, and unwavering commitment to service above self. She thanked Makerere University, the Bank of Uganda, the Foundation’s leadership, and the many friends and colleagues who have continued to uphold his legacy, noting that although nearly four years have passed since his departure, his memory remains vivid and powerful for the family.
She recalled his devotion to both his public duty and his home, sharing personal stories of his leadership within the family and his steadfast faith that shaped their daily lives. Mrs. Tumusiime-Mutebile also highlighted the Foundation’s ongoing work in youth skilling, ethical governance, and private-sector development—initiatives rooted in his own vision. She concluded by inviting continued partnership to sustain the legacy he built, and led the gathering in singing his favourite chorus, a tender tribute to a man whose influence, she said, endures through the lives he touched.
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