Health
Inside Uganda’s National Health Adaptation Plan to Combat Climate Change
By John Okeya
On August 22, 2024, Uganda made history as the first African nation to launch a National Health Adaptation Plan (H-NAP), fulfilling the country’s global commitments at the UN Conference of Parties (COP) 26 and 28 summits in Glasgow (2021), and Dubai (2023), respectively, in response to the growing global climate change risks and challenges.
The National Health Adaptation Plan 2025-2030, dubbed H-NAP, which was launched by the health ministry yesterday in Kampala, seeks to fortify the country’s healthcare system against the current mounting health challenges driven by climate fluctuations, to safeguard public well-being amid the rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and associated health risks.
Officiating the H-NAP launch, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, represented by the third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rt. Hon. Lukia Isanga Nakadama, commended the fruitful collaborative initiative of the government, development, and civil society partners in delivering the Health National Adaptation Plan.
“The government of Uganda has created an enabling policy and legal environment to tackle the climate change challenges,” she noted emphatically, revealing that: “In the Parish Development Model (PDM), we need to integrate climate change interventions. I was recently talking to my people (constituents in Mayuge district) about the PDM programme, I told them; ‘we gave you money and we know you are doing well. They said no, all our crops were washed away by the heavy rains, we did not get anything.’ So, it’s not all that easy.”
She said the current five-year term National Development Plan (NDP) III which is bound to expire and the new NDP IV underscore climate change as a cross-cutting issue requiring mainstreaming across all sectors, assuring that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) will coordinate multisectoral engagements for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and support awareness raising for the new Health National Adaptation Plan.
“I congratulate the Ministry of Health and all sectoral partners for developing the Health National Adaptation Plan that we are launching today. This Plan is based on evidence from the Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment and should provide a systematic guide to building a resilient health system for Uganda,” the Prime Minister observed, urging the different multi-stakeholders to support the implementation of the Plan to harness its full potential in guiding the country’s climate change adaptation action.
Climate change adaptation, commonly used, means the steps taken to help both natural and human environmental systems adjust to the impacts of climate change, whether those changes are happening now or expected in the future. Such interventions may include actions, policies, and strategies designed to specifically reduce the negative effects of climate change while making the most of any potential benefits that may arise.
On the other hand, climate change refers to the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, mostly caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases (also known as GHGs) into the atmosphere. These changes lead to more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions, impacting everything, from agriculture to human health.
One of the key successes arising out of the two weeks deliberation between 120 world leaders and over 40,000 registered participants, including 22,274 party delegates, 14,124 observers, and 3,886 media representatives at COP26 summit in Glasgow, from Sun, Oct 31, 2021 – Fri, Nov 12, 2021, was the compromise to step up support for climate change adaptation, reflected in the Glasgow Pact calling for the doubling of finance to support developing countries like Uganda in adapting to the adverse weather impacts and build resilient health systems.
A key highlight during the Glasgow negotiations, was the realisation by the global actors of the critical linkage between climate change and health, as the discussions culminated in the consensus that the worsening climate crisis directly threatens global health through increased extreme weather events, the spread of diseases, and the increased strain on healthcare systems, thus necessitating urgent integrated action to protect public health.
Subsequently, nation states committed to developing national climate change health vulnerability and adaptation assessments and the health national adaptation plans, both documents that Uganda has now concluded, to emerge as a regional and global leader in the charge towards adaptation to combat climate change effects and build resilience.
The November 2023 Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA) for Sound Management of Climate Change-related Health Risks in Uganda and the Health – National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) 2025- 2030, were conducted through a collaboration led by Uganda’s Ministry of Health, with partners including Rockefeller Foundation, Makerere University, World Health Organization, Ministry of Water and Environment, Amref Health Africa, Reproductive Health Uganda, Pathfinder Uganda, Tree Adoption Uganda, Seed Global Health Uganda, Clinton Health Access Initiative and Regenerate Africa.
Makerere University School of Public Health’s Dr. John Bosco Isunju, who led the teams in the development of both the VAA and H-NAP, was honoured by the Ministry of Health with the 2024 Climate and Health Champions Award during the Health National Adaptation Plan Launch, for his significant contributions to building a climate-resilient health system in Uganda.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s investment played a pivotal role in funding the development of these two strategic documents. Mr. William Asiko, Vice President and head of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office, emphasised, “Climate change is now the gravest threat to the health and well-being of billions of African people. Initiatives like Uganda’s Health National Adaptation Plan demonstrate how African countries are rising to the challenge by scaling the necessary climate solutions and setting an example for the world.”
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, in his remarks delivered by the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda commended the role played by the partners in the development of the Plan, noting that: “Our academics from the Makerere University School of Public Health played a vital role in leading the Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA), which has been instrumental in shaping the development of the H-NAP.”
“This is just one example of Makerere University’s strategic commitment to research, innovation, and capacity-building. We are dedicated to generating evidence and human resources capabilities that guide decision-making and contribute to the development and implementation of climate-resilient strategies in health, agriculture, and other sectors,” the Makerere University Vice Chancellor observed.
He stated that the success of the National Adaptation Plan depends on the strength of our collaborations, which requires concerted efforts of government ministries, health agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, development partners, and the academic community, as he reiterated University’s commitment to being a key partner in the endeavour.
Today, Uganda, like the rest of the region and the globe, continues to grapple with the adverse effects of climate change. Subsequently, the Health National Adaptation Plan’s overarching goal is to enhance the resilience of Uganda’s health sector against climate-related impacts by incorporating climate adaptation into health strategies and planning, ensuring sustainable and continuous healthcare services during climatic challenges;
“Uganda is already experiencing severe climate change effects, such as floods, droughts, and temperature changes, which contribute to health issues like waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, and mental health problems.” The H-NAP report reads in part.
Its precursor, the 2023 Climate Change Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA) survey, conducted across 716 selected health facilities in Uganda, highlighted the significant risks and challenges that climate change poses to public health.
The Vulnerability Assessment revealed that many healthcare facilities in Uganda are highly vulnerable to climate change-related hazards, due to unpreparedness across several critical components. In terms of energy, healthcare facilities were found to lack secure locations to protect emergency energy sources from hazards, had inadequate coverage for critical service areas, and failed to consistently check alternative energy sources.
The health workforce was also underprepared, with gaps in participation in climate adaptation plans, insufficient readiness for outdoor work during extreme conditions, and limited capacity to identify and manage health conditions, worsened by climate impacts.
Significant weaknesses were apparent in water, sanitation and hygiene, and healthcare waste management, including inadequate strategies to monitor and reduce water contamination, limited preparedness to prevent vector breeding in facility water systems, and a lack of comprehensive water safety and contingency plans. Post-hazard recovery plans were insufficient, with no safe locations for critical equipment during emergencies, inadequate safety measures for vital supplies, and inconsistent evacuation mechanisms for health workers and patients.
“These findings highlight a need for implementation of climate change adaptation plans and policies, building capacity of the health workers, and strengthening WASH management systems and water safety plans. There’s also a need for improvement of the reliability of energy infrastructure, development of contingency plans and enhancement of infrastructure resilience, evacuation plans, and post-disaster recovery,” the VAA report reads in part.
Today, Uganda has established a robust policy and legal framework to address climate change, including the National Climate Change Policy of 2015, the Climate Change Act of 2021, and the updated Nationally Determined Contribution of 2022. These frameworks aim to transform Uganda into a climate-resilient, low-carbon society by 2050.
The Uganda National Health Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) aligns with these policies, emphasising the integration of climate change adaptation into health sector plans and policies.
“A key recommendation to tackle climate change issues in Uganda is the integration of climate services for health. These services involve the provision of climate data, tools, and information tailored to the health sector’s needs, enabling health professionals to better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate-related health risks. Climate services for health include forecasting climate variables, monitoring and predicting the spread of climate-sensitive diseases and issuing early warnings for heatwaves and air pollution episodes,” The H-NAP reads in part.
According to the Plan, by integrating these services into health planning and operations, Uganda can enhance its public health resilience against the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the H-NAP proposes a range of short-term and long-term interventions across ten components that include climate-transformative leadership, climate-smart health workforce, integrated risk monitoring, and sustainable financing.
From the H-NAP, specific actions identified include developing guidelines for mainstreaming climate and health, training health workers, enhancing disease surveillance systems, and revising infrastructure standards for climate-proofing. Also, the plan presents a financing framework to mobilise resources for implementing the identified interventions. This includes developing a comprehensive resource mobilisation plan, increasing national budgets for health and climate change policies, and advocating for health issues in climate funding streams.
Uganda is all too familiar with the harsh realities of climate change, having continuously experienced rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and increasingly severe rainy seasons—each intensifying public health challenges. This National Health Adaptation Plan marks a critical step in the country’s climate action efforts, standing as the first of its kind. It serves as a crucial component of Uganda’s broader strategy to mitigate climate impacts and safeguard public health in the face of growing environmental threats.
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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