KAMPALA—Researchers in African Universities have been urged to cultivate a Responsive Culture, create, maintain, and strengthen collaborations, and uphold Research Ethics. In the CARTA programme, Participants explore the requirements for successful research in African universities, including researcher training based on global best practices. They also define and address knowledge management as the process of generating and sharing information; demonstrate the positive linkages between quality research and sustainable development in Africa.
Dr. John Bosco Isunju, the CARTA Focal Person, and iCARTA Project lead at Makerere University, highlighted the Workshop’s Goal of fostering a responsive culture among Universities and Research Institutions Staff. By examining the efficiency of governance structures and processes that support research and graduate training in African Universities and Research Institutions. The CARTA programme seeks to create an environment conducive to the success of early-career and seasoned researchers.
The CARTA APAS Workshop was conducted in 3 days for all Participants; and an additional 2 days for the Training of Trainers (ToTs), from August 12th to 16th August 2024, at Makerere University, School of Public Health – ResilientAfrica Network (MakSPH-RAN), Plot 28, Upper Kololo Terrace, Kampala, Uganda. At the end of the training, Participants were awarded Certificates and urged to cascade the knowledge and skills acquired in their respective institutions.
She noted that over the past five years, MakSPH has collaborated with partners across 25 African countries, indicating a vast network of research partnerships. Dr. Wanyenze also expressed hope that Participants will leave the training with new partnerships and networks, further emphasizing the goal of fostering collaboration among attendees.
“Partnership is very important and I hope as we are here, we will be networking so that at the end of the APAS training, as we leave we will maintain the partnerships and continue to forge networks with researchers we haven’t worked with before. That will hopefully be one of the outcomes of us working together during this APAS Training,” said Professor Wanyenze.
Over the years, Makerere University has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with APHRC. According to Dr. Wanyenze, there is a need to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder productivity and collaboration in African Universities and Research Institutions needed to improve the university research ecosystem, with a key focus on students.
She further noted that; “Students are critical in the research ecosystem. They are smart; they have ideas, especially when we give them space and when they know that their views matter. We need to create an environment where students can communicate freely what they think works without feeling shy and thinking that you’re going to throw it back at them, and make them feel uncomfortable in our Universities.”
Dr. Anne Nangulu, a Professor of Economic History and Principal of Bomet University College (a Constituent College of Moi University) who is also the Focal Point for CARTA at Moi University, believes it is vital for university officials to be proactive and plan ahead of time to execute their academic and research related duties and responsibilities. Prof. Nangulu, re-echoed Prof. Wanyenze, encouraged faculty to delegate some of their duties to students; early career academic and administrative staff as part of mentorship especially at postgraduate level.
Dr. Anne Nangulu, a Professor of Economic History and the Focal Point for CARTA at Moi University speaks during the CARTA’s APAS training at Makerere University.
Prof. Nangulu further noted that; “We might be a little selfish when funds arrive in small amounts. You want to accomplish everything such as data collecting, analysis and dissemination. Think about collaborative research by incorporating early career staff as well. Also, please update your resume today, keep it online, and keep it current. It is part of leadership in promoting institutional and individual visibility in the global space.”
Dr. Joseph Gichuru Wang’ombe, a career development expert and Deputy Executive Director at APHRC, emphasized the need for greater participation in high-quality research and urged participants to actively develop research capacity.
“If you believe in something and put it into your mind and heart, it can be realized. The research and good quality research have to be done by more and more people, and that means that we are building capacity and enabling many others to do research.”
In addition, he stated that workshops emphasize the value of a supportive network of research administrators, clear distinctions between functionaries, the need for funding, mainly from African governments, and technology transfer for the continent.
Dr. Joseph Gichuru Wang’ombe, Deputy Executive Director at APHRC -Nairobi speaks to participants of the APAS training in Kampala.
“To appreciate that it is more than simply the research; it is also about what happens in the library. It is what happens in the Registrar’s and bursar’s offices. We are very happy to see people from many sections of our universities come together. One of the most amazing things we have noticed with CARTA APAS programme is that personnel in Universities as well as research institutions can come from the same institution and not know each other. They meet for the first time but the silos are broken when they return, you’ll notice they’ve discovered new collaboration methods,” said Dr. Gichuru.
Dr. Akinyinka Omigbodun, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan, believes that; Everyone in the university research ecosystem is essential and that institutions must try to use the multi-disciplinarity and expertise of their human resources to build better research environments.
He further emphasized that; “Let us all work as a group. If you observe soccer players, they are part of a team, but they also work in groups. You have the attackers, midfielders, and the defense. You will find that even defenders score goals. The attackers go back to defend when the team is under pressure. Thus, we all must learn to appreciate and do work as teams as well as groups; that way, we can achieve more in African Universities and Research Institutions.”
Dr. Akinyinka Omigbodun, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan.
Started in 2007/2008, CARTA, a Consortium of eight African Partner Universities, four Research Institutions, and Eight non-African Partner Institutions has been led jointly by the African Population and Health Center, Kenya, and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Every year, CARTA facilitates APAS Workshops to strengthen the capacity of institutional functionaries. The iCARTA Project at Makerere University (a NORHED II grant from NORAD), and the Global Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) through CARTA funded the Workshop. This programme seeks to inspire Participants to improve commitment to institutional systems and drive transformation to attain world-class research in African Universities and affiliated research institutions.
In sum, CARTA works as a collaborative arrangement to support sustainable development of a vibrant African Academy able to lead world-class multidisciplinary research that positively impacts public and population health.
Makerere University School of Public Health, in collaboration with Jhpiego, invites applications for 49 short-term positions under the Scaling the Optimal Use of Multiple ACTs to Prevent Antimalarial Drug Resistance (STOP-AMDR) Project.
The short-term assignments will support data collection in Buikwe and Busia districts, with some national-level activities. Applicants are encouraged to review the requirements for their preferred position before applying.
Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), through the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) for Preparedness and Response to Pandemics and Shocks, has shared findings from its study of Uganda’s Mpox response with stakeholders in Kasese, Amuru, Nakasongola and Mayuge districts to strengthen district preparedness for future outbreaks.
The Africa-Europe CoRE is a partnership co-led by MakSPH and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters at UCLouvain, Belgium. It brings together universities in Africa and Europe to strengthen research, training and preparedness for pandemics and other public health shocks.
The district-level dissemination meetings, held from 10 to 14 August 2026, brought together more than 100 local government, health and security officials, Village Health Teams, implementing partners and community representatives. The meetings enabled stakeholders to validate the district-level findings, identify practical actions and provide feedback for the study’s final analysis and national dissemination.
Mr. Philliam Jabim shares the Mpox response study findings with participants during the dissemination meeting in Nakasongola District on 12 August 2026.
Uganda confirmed its first two Mpox cases on 24 July 2024 at Bwera Hospital in Kasese District. The Ministry of Health declared an outbreak on 2 August 2024. As documented in the study, the response involved health workers, communities, local governments, security agencies, political leaders, and implementing partners.
In response to the outbreak, a MakSPH research team led by Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dr. Rawlance Ndejjo, Dr. Steven Kabwama and Mr. Douglas Bulafu conducted a study in May 2025 to assess Uganda’s Mpox response, including its policies, interventions, strategies and challenges, and generate lessons to inform recovery and strengthen preparedness for future public health emergencies.
Using purposive sampling, the research team conducted 20 key informant interviews and five focus group discussions in each of the four districts, drawing perspectives from western Uganda in Kasese, northern Uganda in Amuru, central Uganda in Nakasongola and eastern Uganda in Mayuge.
Participants and the MakSPH research team at the Mpox response study dissemination meeting in Nakasongola District on 12 August 2026.
The study, titled Assessment of the Mpox Response in Uganda: Documenting Challenges, Lessons and Innovations to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness and Response Capacities, was funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere UniversityResearch and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF).
“This study is helping us move beyond recounting the Mpox response to identifying the actions that districts and national partners can take before the next outbreak. By validating the findings with stakeholders who led and experienced the response, we are ensuring that the evidence reflects local realities and can inform stronger surveillance, risk communication, coordination and community engagement,” said Mr. Bulafu, who led the MakSPH team during the dissemination meeting in Amuru.
Mr. Douglas Bulafu engages participants during the Mpox response study dissemination meeting in Amuru District on 10 August 2026.
In Amuru, the 10 August meeting brought together over 25 stakeholders from the district health team, political leadership, security agencies, Village Health Teams, implementing partners and the community. On the same day, a second MakSPH team, led by Mr. Keneth Sebukeera and Mr. Filimin Niyongabo, convened stakeholders in Kasese for a parallel validation meeting. The consultations then continued in Nakasongola on 12 August and concluded in Mayuge on 14 August, extending the study’s engagement across all four districts.
Across the districts, stakeholders said the results reflected their experience during the outbreak. They pointed to strengths in leadership, coordination, community engagement and partner support, while also describing gaps in documentation, logistics, diagnostic access, staffing, risk communication, public trust and continuity of essential health services.
They also noted inconsistent implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) 7-1-7 target, which calls for detecting a suspected outbreak within seven days, notifying public health authorities within one day and completing early response actions within seven days.
The MakSPH research team, led by Mr. Keneth Sebukeera and Mr. Filimin Niyongabo, with participants during the Mpox response study dissemination meeting in Kasese District on 10 August 2026.
In Kasese, stakeholders highlighted gaps in documentation, financial and logistical resources, and human resources. They identified Village Health Teams and grassroots, religious and cultural leaders as important resources for community surveillance and risk communication. They called for stronger collaboration between technical and non-technical leaders, engagement with traditional healers, greater use of local radio for public sensitisation, and better facilitation of district epidemic response teams to reach distant communities.
Amuru participants called for proactive preparedness in the border district, citing misinformation and rumours as barriers to risk communication. They urged timely, accurate information from health workers and other authorities; training in disease surveillance and grant writing to strengthen capacity and resource mobilisation; and compassionate care, psychosocial support and community awareness to reduce stigma and support survivor reintegration.
During the meeting in Nakasongola, stakeholders identified Community Health Workers and Community Health Extension Workers as potential resources for strengthening community surveillance and addressing workforce shortages. Given the district’s position around Lake Kyoga and along the Kampala-South Sudan transit corridor, they also called for stronger documentation, note-taking and reporting, accurate real-time information, closer communication with the Ministry of Health, and collaboration among technical, political, religious and community leaders.
Ms. Eunice Vivian Asingo, Senior Nursing Officer at Nakasongola Health Centre IV, contributes to the discussion during the Mpox response study dissemination meeting in Nakasongola District on 12 August 2026.
Ms. Eunice Vivian Asingo, Senior Nursing Officer at Nakasongola Health Centre IV, called for a permanent, adequately resourced outbreak-management centre to help protect routine services during future epidemics. “We appeal for better facilities to manage epidemics and outbreaks. At Nakasongola Health Centre IV, spaces previously used for outbreak management have been repurposed for other services, and we have limited staff. During the Mpox response, colleagues assigned to manage patients later returned to the general team, creating fear among staff already under pressure,” she said.
In Mayuge, Dr. Basembeza highlighted leadership, coordination and surveillance structures operating from district to community level as important factors in the response. He said the structures enabled the district to receive and respond quickly to community alerts. “Whenever there is a rumour or an alert, we are able to respond. Within 20 minutes, we had a response because of the structure we have,” Dr. Basembeza said.
Based on the findings, the research team recommends increased preparedness financing, stronger community engagement, decentralised diagnostic services through stronger district laboratory capacity, and improved health information and research systems.
Across the four districts, stakeholders reaffirmed that trusted community structures and coordinated action across sectors are essential to strengthening outbreak preparedness.
Every academic year, a new group of students enters Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) with different professional backgrounds, questions and ambitions. For the School, each cohort adds to a growing community of professionals and researchers shaping public health practice, policy and research in Uganda and beyond.
On Friday, 7 August 2026, MakSPH held its orientation for newly admitted students for the 2026/2027 academic year at the MakSPH Auditorium. The orientation introduced students to the School’s academic programmes, leadership, departments, academic administration, student support services and expectations for university life.
For this academic year, ending July 2027, Makerere University admitted more than 370 students to academic programmes hosted at MakSPH. The intake comprised 75 students in the Bachelor of Environmental Health Science, the School’s only bachelor’s programme, 277 across the nine master’s programmes, and 21 across the two doctoral programmes, PhD by Research and PhD by Coursework and Research.
Dean Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze (centre) with MakSPH staff, student leaders and new students during orientation for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The master’s intake includes 103 students in the Master of Public Health by Distance Education, the highest enrolment for the year, followed by 59 in the Master of Public Health Full-Time. The remaining students joined programmes in Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health Informatics, Health Services Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Nutrition, and Public Health Disaster Management. Together, the programmes reflect the breadth of knowledge and skills needed to address public health challenges and bring together students pursuing further training from diverse professional backgrounds.
Welcoming the new cohort, MakSPH Dean Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze urged students to approach their studies with purpose, discipline, and resilience, and focus on what they would be able to do with the knowledge and skills they acquire.
“Please find time to enjoy your journey. I know you’re looking ahead to exams and so many other pressures, but let this journey also be one that you enjoy in terms of what you learn and how you grow, so that you leave here better, not because of the paper that you took but because of the capability that you pick up during your time with us.”
MakSPH Dean Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze addresses new students at orientation for the 2026/2027 academic year, 7 August 2026, MakSPH Auditorium, urging them to value capability over paper.
The Dean’s message speaks to the different reasons students are beginning their journeys at MakSPH. For some, the opportunity is to build on professional experience and strengthen their capacity in roles they already hold. Among them is Dr. Judith Nalukwago, a dental surgeon, former 85th Vice Guild President of Makerere University, and Makindye Division III Lord Councillor, who serves as Executive Secretary for Education, Gender and Public Health at City Hall and the Office of the Lord Mayor.
“I am back here to study a Master’s in Public Health. I am very excited. I have a clinical background and have been practising as a clinician, and it has been a joyful experience. But when I joined the journey of leadership, there were challenges because, as Executive Secretary for Public Health in Kampala, we deal with everyday people’s health challenges,” said Dr. Nalukwago, adding:
“Now I am in management and leadership, and that posed a challenge to me as an individual. I asked myself, what course can I do to add to my skills? Where can I gain skills that can help me overcome this challenge while I am dealing with people? And I remembered that we have the School of Public Health at Makerere University.”
Watch: Dr. Judith Nalukwago on why she returned to MakSPH for a Master’s in Public Health:
Her experience during the Ebola response, when she served on the task force, further highlighted the need for broader public health knowledge. She said the training would strengthen her ability to contribute to policy and public health management, particularly in her role at City Hall, where councillors develop policies, bylaws, and ordinances.
For Mr. John Othieno, the motivation is similarly grounded in applying his training to practical problems. A Software Engineering graduate who previously completed a Master’s in Health Informatics at MakSPH, he has returned to pursue a PhD under the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management. His research focuses on using technology and health informatics to address health-system challenges, including the adoption of picture archiving and communication systems for managing healthcare imaging and data. He said he wants his research to produce solutions that can be applied beyond academia.
“I purposed that, in my academic journey, I would not do research for the sake of having it gather dust on the shelves, but that it would actually be actionable research that can be translated into action, into solutions for our population,” he said.
Watch: Mr. John Othieno on why he returned to MakSPH to pursue a PhD in Public Health:
Nalukwago and Othieno reflect the diverse professional backgrounds that come together at MakSPH, where training, research, and community engagement have been central to the School’s work for over seven decades. Their journeys point to a sustained impact on public health education, seen not only in enrolment and graduate numbers but in the skills and expertise those graduates carry into policy, research, and health systems across Uganda and the region. At the close of the 2024/2025 academic year, MakSPH enrolled 1,140 students across 12 degree programmes, more than 90 percent of them in postgraduate training.
At Makerere University’s 76th Graduation Ceremony on 25 February 2026, MakSPH presented 231 graduates, comprising seven doctoral, 195 master’s and 29 bachelor’s graduates, adding to the health workforce within the region. Among the graduates was Dr. Harriet Aber, who completed her PhD on child substance use in Uganda’s health system and shared her experience with the new cohort during the orientation. She spoke candidly about the demands of postgraduate study and the need to remain positive through its challenges.
Dr. Harriet Aber, a MakSPH PhD graduate, shares her postgraduate journey with new students at orientation, 7 August 2026, MakSPH Auditorium, urging them to maintain a positive attitude through the challenges ahead.
“It’s not a rosy journey. You’re going to have so many moments where you celebrate, where you’re happy about something, but there are also several moments when maybe you’re stuck with the paper, you have to respond to comments, the proposal is not moving, the concept is not clear. Throughout all those processes, one of the things that you just have to maintain is having a positive attitude,” Aber affirmed.
Her experience offered the new cohort a glimpse of the journey ahead, while Prof. Wanyenze’s message focused on how they could make the most of it. The Dean urged students to plan ahead, pursue research opportunities, think independently, and use artificial intelligence responsibly, while seeking mentorship and making full use of the support and opportunities available at the School.
“Our students are our colleagues, and they are our future workmates. Many of them have ended up staying with us. And I know many of you are going to stay with us in the School,” the Dean said, urging students to take seriously the relationships they build with their classmates and faculty, because “we are a network that’s bound together in the same profession.”
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