Veterinary & Biosecurity
Makerere University Hosts Stakeholders Workshop on One Health approach to understanding Climate Change and Zoonoses
By Joseph Odoi
On January 30-31, 2025, Makerere University in partnership with Glasgow, UK and University of Stockholm, Sweden with support from Europe’s CIVIS University Alliance, organized a multi-disciplinary workshop at Kabira Country Club, Kampala, Uganda entitled “One Health and Diagnosing Zoonoses – Understanding the Importance of Climate Change in Disease Prevalence.” The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including academicians, researchers, and practitioners, to collaborate on addressing public health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.
The workshop was organized and officially opened by Associate Professor Lawrence Mugisha from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University alongside Professor Jonathan Cooper from the University of Glasgow, who led the CIVIS Alliance team to Uganda.
In his opening address, Prof. Mugisha welcomed participants and outlined the key objectives of the workshop. He noted that the primary aim of the workshop was to build new pathways for knowledge exchange and strengthen One Health capabilities within Uganda and East Africa in order to develop a better understanding of the role of climate change in disease dynamics (including zoonoses) in humans and animal health and their wellbeing.
Furthermore, the workshop sought to explore the regional links between zoonotic disease prevalence and climate change by using appropriate digital tools/systems that will, in future, have the potential to be used more widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.
On the impact of Climate Change in Disease Prevalence, Professor Mugisha noted that the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have all warned around the need to better understand the harmful effects of climate change on health and disease, especially in low-and-middle-income-countries with such effects readily seen with Sub-Saharan Africa suffering some of the worst impacts.
‘’Uganda is also considered as a ‘hot spot’ for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease epidemics. The country has experienced several epidemics including; Ebola, Marburg, Plague, Rift Valley Fever, Yellow fever and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever. ‘’Many of these public health challenges arise from the interaction between humans-animals-environment and require a One Health approach as a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals, plants and the environment.’’ added Professor Mugisha.
In his remarks, Professor Jonathan Cooper from the University of Glasgow acknowledged participants and provided a brief background on the CIVIC University Alliance. He stated that under CIVIS, multiple universities collaborate to offer joint learning pathways, research opportunities, and diverse degree programs, creating a dynamic network where students and academics can move freely between institutions. Through this collaboration, they work together to address societal challenges, including One Health and climate change, while also developing real-world solutions. He also commended the collaborative efforts of Makerere University, particularly those of Professor Lawrence Mugisha, in working across multiple disciplines at local, national, and global levels to achieve optimal health for people, animals, plants, and the environment.
Prof. Mugisha delivered a keynote address on climate change and human health and highlighted how climate change is causing unprecedented threats to human health, driving emergence of new infectious diseases and exacerbating the existing ones in addition to fueling frequent occurrence of severe natural catastrophes like floods, hurricanes and wildfires. He reported as per World Economic Forum Report of 2024, that climate change is projected by 2050 to cause additional 14.5 million deaths and $12.5 trillion in economic losses worldwide. He called upon all stakeholders to act together through research, innovations and public directed interventions to reverse the potential impact of climate change. He provided examples of different research consortiums working together to contribute to finding solutions to address the impacts of climate on health of humans, animals and entire ecosystem. Highlighted Projects include DIDIDA-Improving disease diagnosis in Africa (Home – Didida), PREPARE4VBDS— A Cross-Disciplinary Alliance to Identify, PREdict and prePARE for Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases (prepare4vbd.eu) and recently funded DIDIDI- development of advanced, low-cost and deployable digital dashboards and diagnostics to understand how changes in climate are affecting the dynamics of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) and schistosomiasis in underserved rural community settings in sub-Saharan Africa
Dr. Frederick Monje, a focal person for the One Health Platform from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), provided a brief background of the National One Health Platform of Uganda. He stated that the platform was established in 2016 to serve as a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism aimed at addressing public health threats arising from the interactions between humans, animals, and the environment.
Dr. Monje emphasized that the National One Health Platform in Uganda plays a critical role in surveillance, early detection, and rapid response to outbreaks through collaborations with district health teams, universities, and research institutions. He noted, “One Health is one of the ways to prevent the next pandemic. We need to do a lot of preparedness to prevent cross-cutting public health threats from coming to us. We have developed a number of training and partnerships with universities and many stakeholders to achieve the One Health objective.”
In his presentation, Mr. Monje also cited the World Bank’s report, highlighting that globally, zoonotic diseases sicken 2.4 billion people annually, kill 2.2 million, and affect more than 1 in 7 livestock. The direct economic costs of zoonotic diseases are estimated at 20 billion dollars per year. He pointed out that Uganda, due to its proximity to the Congo Basin and other hotspots, faces significant public health threats from zoonotic diseases.
Mr. Monje further emphasized that the platform’s impact is evident in its district-level One Health teams, which have strengthened Uganda’s pandemic preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases such as Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and anthrax. He reiterated that One Health is critical to preventing future pandemics, requiring continuous preparedness, collaboration, and policy development to safeguard public health.
In her presentation, Ms. Patricia Nyinguro- Principal Meteorologist at the Kenya Meteorological Department revealed that there is rising temperatures in Kenya, showing an increasing trend since 1961, particularly in semi-arid regions. Despite this, she noted that public perception of heatwaves is low yet rising temperatures are key drivers of heat-related mortality, morbidity, and infectious diseases.
Moving forward, Ms. Patricia emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing heat health action plans and called for the development of indicators to measure progress in climate change adaptation.
In a digital technologies session, Dr. Xin Guo from the University of Glasgow shared insights on mobile health platforms for diagnostics, including demonstrations of relevant applications. He showed how apps can help diagnose diseases, especially zoonotic ones, and improve healthcare, especially in areas that need better disease tracking and response.
Participants engaged in discussions on zoonoses, its impact, and the importance of the One Health approach. Key questions explored included: What are zoonoses? Why is One Health crucial? Who are the stakeholders involved, and how can zoonoses be effectively addressed?
Using the Double Diamond Methodology, participants in group discussions also identified the most pressing challenges that climate change poses or will pose on zoonoses, potential solutions, and the reasons why these solutions aren’t being implemented yet.
Key outcomes from the engagement included the drafting of a policy brief outline, which will guide future initiatives aimed at tackling public health threats.
The workshop also tackled important issues such as data interoperability, data ownership and management, and ethics and privacy. These topics were thoroughly explored during structured discussions, with a particular focus during the Early Career Researcher (ECR) session.
Dr. Paul Mbanka, Assistant Commissioner of Health Services, outlined the Ministry of Health’s commitment to addressing Zoonoses related cases citing presence of an incident management system, which includes an SMS-based mechanism for reporting diseases to the emergency response center. Upon detection of an alert, the information is verified, samples are collected, and if confirmed, a response is initiated. In terms of areas for improvement, Dr. Mbanka acknowledged the challenge of information sharing across various sectors. When asked about Data sharing by workshop participants, He also stated that the Ministry of Health is open to sharing data with researchers, provided it supports the Ministry’s goals
The two-day workshop concluded with an emphasis on the critical need for continued collaboration in the One Health sector. Participants, including Researchers, Academicians, PhD and Master’s students from Makerere University, and Uganda and Kenya registered students at Glasgow University made presentations and also engaged in strategic discussions on tackling zoonotic diseases, climate change, and the integration of digital innovations in health data management.
To conclude the workshop, Prof. Lawrence Mugisha, Professors Julien Reboud and Jon Cooper of the Makerere University and University of Glasgow respectively expressed their appreciation to all participants for the insightful presentations, discussions and emphasized the importance of ongoing partnerships across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Veterinary & Biosecurity
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity Marks Milestone Achievement
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity presented a total of 186 students during the 75th Makerere University Graduation ceremony. This diverse cohort included 68 women and 118 men. Among the graduates, six earned their esteemed PhDs, showcasing the college’s commitment to advanced education and research.
In addition to celebrating the graduates, the event also honored faculty members for their exceptional contributions to research excellence. Senior career awards were presented to Prof. Mugisha Lawrence, Dr. Enoch Matovu, Prof. Kankya Clovice, Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, and Dr. Nyakarahuka Luke.
The Midcareer awards went to Dr. Muhanguzi Denis, Dr. Vudrico Patrick, Dr. Mutebi Francis, and Dr. Nanteza Ann. The Early career awards were given to Dr. Wilfred Eneku, Dr. Abigaba Rubaijaniza, and Dr. Paul Ssajakambwe. These awards highlight the college’s commitment to fostering excellence in research and education across various career stages.
During the first session of the Graduation ceremony held at the Freedom Square, the Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga in his remarks directed the integration of political economy teaching across all courses to enhance students’ understanding of the country’s socioeconomic conditions.
He said in the effort to further the research endeavors, the government pledged to increase Makerere University‘s research funding and strengthen partnerships with the private sector to commercialize innovations developed at the institution. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the newly appointed Chancellor, presided over the event and encouraged the university to establish an agro-industrial park on its land. “The parks would serve three purposes: teaching, generating income, and acting as a demonstration site for communities across the country,” he stated.
The ceremony was graced by Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, Minister of State for Primary Education, who represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni. Other dignitaries included members of Parliament, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, and academics. She lauded Makerere University for its dedication to academic excellence and innovation. “Today reflects the resilience, hard work, and commitment of our graduates, supported by the university staff, management, and parents,” she said. The Minister commended the Vice Chancellor and management for fostering research and innovation while urging them to maintain robust quality control systems to uphold the institution’s integrity. She also reflected on Makerere’s recent milestones, including the commissioning of a new School of Law building and the launch of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. “Your achievements stem from hard work, transparency, and accountability. They set Makerere apart as a leader in higher education,” she noted.
Vice Chancellor Highlights Makerere’s Impact
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated the 13,658 graduates at Makerere University, including 143 PhD recipients and a notable 53% female graduates. He acknowledged the contributions of staff, parents, and sponsors in supporting the students’ educational journeys. Prof. Nawangwe highlighted the College of Veterinary Medicine’s significant contributions to biosecurity and sustainable food systems. He reiterated the university’s transformation into a research-led institution, driven by the government’s Research and Innovation Fund. Key national priorities being addressed include improving the Parish Development Model and advancing e-governance.
Highlights of CoVAB’s Notable Research Achievements
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized several significant research projects and accomplishments at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB). He mentioned that in collaboration with the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and supported by the Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) Global, CoVAB researchers are tackling the rising threat of cyberattacks on laboratories handling high-risk biological materials.
Furthermore, the Centre for Biosecurity and Global Health (CeBiGH) at CoVAB continues to advance the development of recombinant vaccines and diagnostics, with support from the Science Technology and Innovations Office of the President (STI-OP). They have established state-of-the-art laboratories with up to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) containment. These labs have developed prototype prognostic tests and vaccine prototypes for COVID-19, anti-tick vaccines, and East Coast Fever, expanding their research to other diseases requiring diagnostics and vaccines.
The Vice Chancellor also informed the gathering about the molecular and computational biology research group, led by Dr. Muhanguzi Dennis. This group, in partnership with the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) in Greece, leads a large consortium of seven sub-Saharan institutions to explore the role of ticks as disease vectors, focusing on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.
Additionally, the college, supported by the Swiss Government, is leading efforts to eliminate rabies in Uganda and the region through electronic surveillance. This initiative, using a one health approach, involves partnerships with the University of Zurich, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, among others.
“Graduation Statistics of the 75th graduation ceremony
During the course of the 75th graduation ceremony, a total of 13,658 graduands received degrees and diplomas of Makerere University. 53 % of the graduands were female and 47% male. 44% of the PhD graduands were female. 16% of the graduates are graduating with post-graduate degrees and diplomas.
Carol Kasujja Adii and Ritah Namisango
The excitement was palpable as hundreds of graduands and parents flocked Makerere University Freedom Square for the first session of the colourful graduation ceremony on Monday 13th January 2025.
The Chancellor, Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga will confer degrees and present diplomas to a total of 13,658 graduands during the 75th graduation ceremony of Makerere University that runs until Friday 17th January 2025.
On each day, after the Chancellor has dissolved the congregation, the best researchers, best teachers and excelling students in the company of their parents or guardians proceed to Makerere University Convocation gardens for a luncheon.
The Makerere University Convocation Graduation luncheon brings on board invited staff and alumni as well as keynote speakers from the government, private and business sector to witness the presentation of the Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Awards to the best University researchers and students.
Some of the dignitaries present for the first luncheon included: The Chancellor-Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the Chairperson of Council-Mrs. Lorna Magara, the commencement Speaker-Vice of the University of South Africa, Prof. LenkaBula Puleng, Secretary of the Education Service Commission-Dr. Asuman Lukwago, among others.
Welcoming the dignitaries, the Chairperson of the Convocation, Mr. George Turyamureeba congratulated the best students accompanied by their parents upon this academic milestone, and encouraged them to join the Convocation (the Alumni and Staff association) in order to tap into mentorship opportunities as well as professional networks.
The day one of the 75th Graduation Ceremony featured graduates from the College of Education and External Studies, College of Computing and Information Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, and the School of Law. The best 30 students per College are invited to the University Convocation with their parents to celebrate their academic success, and to listen to inspirational speeches from personalities who are acknowledged for utilizing their knowledge, skills, professions or talent to cause a positive difference in the lives of other people.
In his earlier address to the congregation in the Freedom Square, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, stated that the meritorious award presented to researchers was in recognition of their prolific publication record and outstanding contribution to Makerere University’s scholarly excellence.
This being his maiden graduation ceremony as Chancellor of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellor congratulated Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, an alumnus of Makerere University upon his appointment and installation by H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Prof. Nawangwe reiterated the readiness of the University Council and Management to implement the good ideas and strategies aimed at scaling Makerere University to greater heights.
Making reference to the commencement speech delivered by Prof. LenkBula Puleng, Prof. Nawangwe emphasized the need for graduates to always remember the speaker’s focus on what should be done to emancipate Africa from poverty.
Prof. Nawangwe thus called upon all the researchers who were recognized to use the awards as an inspiration to carry out more research that addresses the needs of the African continent.
During the event, the Chancellor, Hon. Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, noted that Africa is still trapped in poverty and lags behind because the continent is not integrated.
According to Dr. Kiyonga, although Africa lags behind, African Universities have to collaborate to address continent-wide challenges, enhance research capacity, foster knowledge sharing, and ultimately contribute more effectively to the development of Africa by tackling issues such as poverty.
Chancellor Kiyonga rallied universities in Africa to intensify collaborations in order to spur research and development.
“Makerere University researchers need to know what is happening in the University of South Africa, check out how they teach and exchange staff and students. If we get together as Universities, we will move fast,” Hon. Dr. Kiyonga noted.
The Chancellor equally called upon the graduates to be innovative and find solutions to address societal challenges. He reminded the graduates that people would judge them by asking what they did during their time.
“Our children are going abroad for work; this is a curse. If most of them leave, who will develop the Nation? Let us come together because the future of Africa is embedded in integration,” Hon. Dr. Kiyonga said.
To ensure that the message on integration of Africa remains on the agenda, Hon. Dr. Kiyonga informed the University leadership, staff, alumni and invited guests, that when provided with platforms to speak, he will always advocate for the integration of Africa.
“As the Makerere University Convocation brings us together, we must uphold the slogan, ‘We build for the future’ not just for Makerere’s future, or Uganda’s future, but for Africa’s future,” Dr. Kiyonga said.
Inspired by the good initiatives of the Makerere University Convocation headed by Mr. George Turyamureeba, Hon. Dr. Kiyonga-a 1978 graduate of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Makerere University pledged to pay all his convocation dues.
Presenting the keynote speech, Dr. Asuman Lukwago-Secretary of the Education Service Commission congratulated all the graduates on their academic achievements. Dr. Lukwago called upon all fresh graduates to live responsibly so as to achieve their full potential.
Sharing his personal experience on taking on unpaid employment after completing his studies at the Medical school, Dr. Lukwago urged the graduates who have accumulated knowledge, not to remain idle as they wait for employment.
“Many of you are focusing on looking for payment and it is true you need to be paid, but suppose you get a non-paid employment? My first assignment was on a volunteer basis, but my Professor encouraged me to take it on. He said: ‘Among the people whom you will be teaching will be sons and daughters of Ministers. If you teach them well, they will recommend you’ and that is how my name went into boardrooms,” Dr Lukwago narrated.
He encouraged the graduates to focus on their future noting that life feels long and hard when someone is suffering but is short and enjoyable when one achieves his or her target.
“You have been good students at the University level, but you have to be good citizens who can contribute to the growth of our Country’s economy. Analyze and unpack the four-acre model, a modern type of farming,” Dr Lukwago guided.
The Four-Acre Model advocates for diversified farming, where farmers allocate one acre to coffee, another to fruits, the third to pasture for dairy, and the fourth to food crops.
Why the convocation is important:
The Chairperson of Makerere University Convocation, Mr. George Turyamureeba explained that the association brings on board alumni and staff of Makerere University.
The mission of the convocation is to mobilise members and well-wishers to support the welfare and progress of Makerere University and to participate in the enhancement and improvement of intellectual and material wellbeing of the university community.
Mr. Turyamureeba pointed out that for one to qualify as a Member of Makerere University convocation, he or she pays an annual subscription of UGX 50,000/=. A member of the Makerere University Convocation benefits in form of: Career Development and Job opportunities, Alumni networking and social capital, Career guidance and mentorship programs, Financial support and scholarships.
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