Health
Rockefeller Foundation, 11 Other Agencies Honored with 2024 Climate and Health Champion Awards
The Ministry of Health Uganda has recognised 12 outstanding agencies and eight individuals for championing climate change and health resilience in Uganda. They received the 2024 climate and health champions awards.
The awards were presented at the launch of the Climate Change Health National Adaptation Plan-H-NAP (2025-2030) to address the significant threat climate change poses to public health and enhance the resilience of the health sector against climate-related impacts in the country, by the Rt. Hon. Lukia Isanga Nakadama, the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and the woman Member of Parliament for Mayuge District while presiding over the ceremony as the Chief Guest at Sheraton Hotel, Kampala on Thursday August 22, 2024.
Speaking at the launch of the H-NAP, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health noted that climate change is a cross-cutting phenomena and that many institutions and individuals have been engaged in activities that directly or indirectly promote building of a climate resilient health system in Uganda.
The Ministry of Health handed the award to The Rockefeller Foundation, an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization. The Foundation provided technical and financial support to Uganda to conduct the vulnerability assessments of the health sector and develop the Health National Adaptation Plan. With this funding, Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) was asked to generate evidence through field research whose results were used to develop the H-NAP.
The Foundation was recognized for its technical and financial support towards Uganda’s climate and health response. Mr. William Asiko, Vice President and head of The Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office received the award on behalf of The Foundation.
Other organisations that received the awards were the Office of the Prime Minister for its continued support to climate health emergencies. The Ministry of Water and Environment’s Department of Climate Change also received an award in recognition of the collaborative efforts on climate and health policies and governance in the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Uganda country office also was recognized for its technical and financial support. Also, MakSPH received an appreciation award for its contributions to building a climate-resilient system in Uganda for its technical support in developing the H-NAP. Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, the Dean, received the award on behalf of the School.
Regenerate Africa’s Executive Director Mr. Charles Kabiswa, received the Appreciation Award in recognition of Regenerate’s technical and financial contribution towards building a climate resilient health system in Uganda. Regenerate Africa is a non-profit organisation that aims to contribute to, and accelerate Africa’s transition to a regenerative economy.
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Seed Global Health Uganda, Pathfinder Uganda, Amref Africa, Tree Adoption Uganda and Reproductive Health Uganda equally received awards as a token of appreciation for the advocacy and distinguished support to the health sector.
Individual awards went to the Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health as a special recognition for her technical, political leadership towards a climate resilient health system. Other officials recognized in the Ministry include; Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General, Dr. Danie Kyabayinze, Director Health Services -Public Health, Dr. Herbert Nabaasa, Commissioner Health Services -Environmental Health Department and Dr. Didacus Namanya, a Health Geographer/ Climate Change Focal Person at the Ministry of Health for their technical leadership and advocacy.
Among those awarded was Dr. John Bosco Isunju, a Lecturer and Lead on the Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA) and H-NAP for his technical support and advocacy.
Uganda’s H-NAP was developed to guide climate change adaptation efforts in the health sector and was informed by the Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment (VAA) conducted in 716 selected health facilities across Uganda.
Climate change is by far the greatest threat to human health. Existing scientific evidence from the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports and other sources show that environmental determinants of health such as water, food, air among others have been and will continue to directly and indirectly affected. At the same time, all other components of the health system such as the health infrastructure, health workforce, essential products and supply chains are also being negatively affected by climate change.
Uganda is already experiencing the effects of climate change, which is characterized by floods, and landslides with shorter or longer rains, harsher droughts, and warming up in different parts of the country.
Droughts affect the availability of safe and adequate water supply for domestic consumption, and floods contaminate water with disease causing pollutants, which can result in water-related diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
The vulnerability assessment conducted in 2023 had their results shared at national stakeholder’s validation meetings and at the COP28 in Dubai.
The VAA reported that nearly half (47.6%) of healthcare facilities are vulnerable to drought, while 39.7% face the risk of floods in Uganda. Additionally, 31.1% are exposed to storms, 12.0% are at risk from rising water levels, and 11.7% are susceptible to landslides. Lightning poses a threat to 8.9% of facilities, heat waves affect 2.0%, and cold waves impact 0.1%.
Other findings from the VAA assessment reveals that a significant 76.5% of healthcare facilities in Uganda that are affected by drought reported considerable impacts on their health workforce. Additionally, 73.6% experienced disruptions in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, while 32.6% faced challenges related to infrastructure, technologies, products, and processes.
This H-NAP that has been launched covers ten components based on the WHO framework aimed at building a climate resilient low-carbon health system which is capable of anticipating, responding to, coping with, recovering from. and adapting to climate-related shocks and stress, while minimising the greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts to deliver quality care and protect the health and well-being of present and future generations of Uganda.
The H-NAP proposes a range of short-term and long-term interventions across ten components: climate- transformative leadership and governance, climate-smart health workforce, integrated risk monitoring, and sustainable financing among others. Specific actions include; developing guidelines for mainstreaming climate and health, training health workers, enhancing disease surveillance systems, and revising infrastructure standards for climate-proofing.
Stakeholders at the H-NAP launch noted that its success relies on strong collaboration between government ministries, health agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to climate change.
The Iteso Cultural Leader, His Highness Emorimor Papa Paul Sande Emolot, has called on Makerere University to elevate the Science of Designing, Adaptation, and Implementation of Evidence-Based Parenting Interventions course into a fully-fledged programme. This, he argued, would strengthen the capacity of practitioners implementing parenting interventions across Uganda.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony held on 11th June 2025 at Makerere University where 35 practitioners completed the 12-week course, Emorimor Papa Emolot emphasized the transformative power of effective parenting. He urged aspiring parents and advocates of the Parenting for Respectability model to enroll in the course.
Citing the impact in his own sub-county and village, the cultural leader revealed that over 800 families had already benefited from the programme.
“We now see peace and love in homes where there was once conflict. Without good parenting, you risk raising animals instead of children,” he passionately stated.
He praised the course for equipping practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with the skills needed to design culturally sensitive, evidence-based parenting interventions tailored to Uganda’s context. Among the notable graduates was Her Royal Majesty Juliet Among Emolot Atomeileng Akaliat Toto, who reaffirmed her commitment to advancing family-strengthening initiatives using the skills and knowledge acquired.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at Makerere University, described the course as a timely intervention. During this remarks, Dr. Siu described the event as a significant milestone in advancing the field of evidence based parenting intervention and family strengthening in Uganda.
“This course is meant to empower you as practitioners, policy makers and all those involved in development and implementation of parenting work. It provides both theoretical knowledge and practical tools essential for developing high quality interventions”, Dr. Siu noted. He urged the pioneer group to carry forward the expertise as champions of designing, adaptation and implementation of evidence parenting interventions.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Dr. Aggrey David Kibenge, Juliana Naumo, Commissioner for Culture and Family Affairs, said the course supports the government’s agenda to address negative social outcomes affecting families.
“By grounding parenting in research, harmonizing policy with practice, and advocating for equity, we will ensure no family is left behind,” she said. “Cross-sectoral collaboration is key to unlocking transformative change.”
Ms. Naumo highlighted the government’s commitment—both technical and financial—to support outstanding student projects from the course. She stressed the importance of equipping professionals with the skills to bridge gaps between research and practice for consistent, high-quality parenting support across Uganda. While delivering the Vice chancellors speech by Dr. Helen Nambalirwa, Principal of the CHUSS, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the graduates as a beacon of hope.
“At a time when parenting faces challenges like digital distractions, changing societal norms, and a rising mental health crisis, Makerere reaffirms its support for interventions that drive the societal transformation we desire,” Nawangwe stated.
Prof. Richard Idro, Deputy Principal of the College of Health Sciences, acknowledged the growing parenting challenges in Uganda and the region, adding that the course was a major step towards standardizing parenting interventions nationwide.
He applauded the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) for leading this paramount and critical initiative.
Mr. Hosea Katende, Course Administrator at CHDC, emphasized the importance of integrating systematic methods, ethical principles, robust evidence, and collaboration to create lasting impact in parenting.
Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi, Lecturer at CHDC, representing Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Director of CHDC, acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the ELMA Foundation and Echidna Giving for their financial and capacity-building support. He also appreciated the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, among other stakeholders, for their technical guidance in the programme’s successful implementation.
Dr. Dhabangi extended gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and acknowledged growing collaborations with other cultural institutions such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in the shared mission of building strong families as the foundation of Uganda’s future.
He extended his heartfelt gratitude to cultural institutions, especially the Kingdom of Teso, and others kingdoms such as the Kingdom of Acholi, in building Uganda’s future through creating strong families. Nuruh Mbalyowere, a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Officer with the Uganda Prisons Service, was honored for developing the best parenting intervention titled “Parenting Behind Prison Bars.” She expressed her intention to apply the knowledge gained both at home and in her workplace.
By Okeya John and Primrose Nabankema
The intensive one-month course, running for the first time from June 5 to July 24, 2025, is jointly offered by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH)’s Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences (CHBS) and the Department of Journalism and Communication (DJC) at the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication (SLLC), co-designed in 2024 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation through Amref Health Africa.
It seeks to equip healthcare providers at the community level, public health and environmental health practitioners, communication specialists, health educators, community development officers, social scientists, and policy makers, among others, with strategic communication skills to improve public health messaging, strengthen community engagement, and support evidence-based interventions, ultimately empowering participants to effectively engage communities and improve population health outcomes across Uganda and the region.
Launching the course, the heads of the Department of Journalism and Communication and the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences noted that participants who complete the short course will gain practical tools to influence behaviour change, build trust, and deliver timely, accurate, and relevant health information to the communities they serve. The first cohort attracted more than 60 applicants, with 36 reporting for the opening in-person session on June 5, 2025, at MakSPH in Mulago. Between now and July, participants will undergo a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience within the Certificate in Health Communication and Community Engagement program, which combines theory and practice.
Among the participants in the first cohort of the certificate course, designed as a pilot for the anticipated Master of Health Promotion and Communication to be jointly offered by the two departments at Makerere University, is Ms. Maureen Kisaakye, a medical laboratory technologist specialising in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and currently pursuing a Master’s in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology at Makerere. She is driven by a passion to help reverse the rising tide of AMR, a growing global health threat where drugs that once worked are no longer effective. Kisaakye is particularly concerned about common infections, like urinary tract infections, becoming increasingly resistant and harder to treat.
“I enrolled in this course because I’m an advocate against antimicrobial resistance, and it came at a time when I needed to deepen my knowledge on how to implement our projects more effectively and engage with communities. The experience has broadened my understanding of AMR and its impact on society, and strengthened my passion for community-driven health initiatives and advocacy,” Kisaakye said, explaining why she enrolled for the short course.
Kisaakye’s work in antimicrobial resistance extends beyond the lab. Having earned her degree in medical laboratory science from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, she founded Impala Tech Research in 2024 to drive impact and save lives. She has led grassroots AMR campaigns that integrate antimicrobial stewardship with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) education in underserved urban communities, including the informal settlements in Kampala. She also has since designed peer-led initiatives that empower university students as AMR Champions, building a network of informed youth advocates. Kisaakye believes the health communication course will sharpen her ability to design and deliver impactful, community-centred interventions in response to the growing threat of drug resistance.
“The department collaborates with many partners within and beyond the University, including the School of Public Health, where we are working to develop the subfield of health communication and promotion. Our goal is to train specialists in this area and build a community of practice, something we have each been doing in our own spaces. There’s a lot of work ahead, and COVID-19 showed us just how urgently we need a generation trained to do this kind of work, and to do it very well,” said Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, during the opening of the short course on June 5.
She assured participants they were in good hands and underscored the importance of the partnership between the Department of Journalism and Communication and the School of Public Health, describing it as a vital collaboration that brings together strategic communication and public health expertise. This dynamic, multidisciplinary approach, she noted, is essential to developing practical solutions that empower communities, strengthen health systems, and ultimately improve livelihoods.
The course offers a hands-on, multidisciplinary learning experience, with participants intended to explore key modules including Health Communication and Promotion, Risk Communication, Smart Advocacy, Community Mapping, Community Mobilisation and Empowerment, and Strategies for Community Engagement. The course combines theory with real-world application, and its assessment includes a field-based project and a final exam.
“You are our first cohort. We are seeing the fruits of our efforts in bringing this short course to life. It was born out of a joint initiative to develop a Master’s programme in Health Promotion and Communication,” said Dr. Christine Nalwadda, Head of the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences. “We carried out extensive consultations with our different key stakeholders during the process and discovered a real need for such a course. It was the stakeholders who even named it; this course name didn’t come from us.”
For Kisaakye, by the end of the course in July, she hopes to have sharpened her skills in health promotion and strategic communication, particularly in crafting targeted messages that help individuals and communities effectively respond to threats such as antimicrobial resistance. She also aims to gain practical experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating community health initiatives that can strengthen her advocacy and drive lasting impact.
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