Health
JASH2025 opens with call for renewed commitment to prevention, innovation and partnership
The 19th edition of the Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference (JASH) jointly held with the Inaugural National Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases Conference (NACNDC) was officially opened by Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Minister for Health on 5th November 2025. The Minister called for renewed commitment to prevention, innovation, and partnership if Uganda is to end preventable communicable and non-communicable diseases by 2030.
The Conference themed, ‘Unified Action Against Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases’ held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda from 3rd to 7th November 2025 is organised by Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) and Ministry of Health (MoH). The convening brings together over 500 delegates from government, academia, civil society, development partners, and the private sector.
Highlighting the areas where commendable progress has been made including: full childhood vaccination from 37% in 2000 to 68% in 2022, reduced child stunting from 45% to 26%, increased life expectancy from 45 years in 1986 to 68 years in 2022, strong HIV control among others. The Minister also noted that Uganda continues to grapple with challenges like sub-optimal uptake of new vaccination anti-gens fueled by misinformation, myths and rumors; geographical disparities in access to quality health services; 29.1% of Ugandans being obese or overweight signaling the risk to develop NCDs like hypertension and diabetes.
‘To address the challenges, we must: strengthen our health systems, ensuring that services are accessible, equitable, and of high quality; enhance our community engagement and empowerment, enabling individuals to make informed health decisions, providing informationm Foster partnerships across sectors and actors to create a supportive environment for elimination of communicable and non-communicable diseases’, the Minister said.
She further said, ‘unified action against communicable and non-communicable as theme of this conference calls for integrated, people-centred approaches to prevention and care’. She emphasized that disease control is not the responsibility of the health sector alone, it requires collaboration with education, local government, water and sanitation, transport, and private sectors.
In her remarks to the congregation, Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary-MoH commended the organisers for successfully organizing the conference. She noted that the inaugural NACNDC marks a milestone for the health sector in addressing the rising double disease burden of communicable and non-communicable among the Ugandan population.
‘The theme aligns with our new strategic direction that emphasises collaboration amid declining external funding, therefore, let us continue to plan, invest, and be accountable together’, Dr. Atwine said.
She noted the multiple achievements and remaining challenges of the health sector underscoring the priorities of MoH including: upgrading key hospitals, expanding blood banks, recruitment of specialised staff, equipping regional facilities, scaling-up digitization, and strengthening immunization and community health systems.
The Permanent Secretary expressed her gratitude for the work of the organizing committee, partners and participants for making the conference a success. She called for sustained momentum of collaboration and innovation reiterating commitment of the MoH in supporting the platform created from this conference.
She re-echoed the role of academia in the unified action, ‘Academia we depend on you for innovative ways. Your research should answer our burning questions to solve our problems’.
Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal-MakCHS appealed to government to consume products from training institutions especially nurses and other allied health professionals noting that currently 40,000 nurses are not employed, many turning to odd jobs. He thanked government for the gains in science and enabling the partnerships leading to such meetings and dialogue on solutions to national challenges.
Prof. Kirenga reminded participants that MakCHS is celebrating 100 years with an upcoming Alumni Dinner to be held on 12th December 2025, he invited all well-wishers to attend calling for their support as we fundraise to refurbish infrastructure at the college and build new facilities amidst the increased number of learners.
Professor Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean MakSPH expressed commitment of the university and researchers to continue to serve in this space by providing data to inform evidence-based policy making. ‘Rather than describe existing problems we commit to offer innovative solutions to the problems and train and produce a workforce that is aligned to requirements of where they serve’ she added.
Delivering the speech of Professor Sarah Ssali, Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs, Makerere University, Professor Robert Wamala, Director-Research & Innovations said ‘Makerere University is honored to co-host the conference with Ministry of Health. This partnership shows that research, policy and practice must move together to solve challenges of our population. Let this conference not be another meeting but a beginning for sustained health dialogue’.
Delivering the conference objectives at the conference, Dr. David Musoke, Associate Professor at MakSPH and Conference Co-Chair, underscored the need for integrated, evidence-driven approaches to Uganda’s evolving health challenges.
He noted that the joint conference, co-convened by the Ministry of Health, MakSPH, and partners, marks a pivotal step in aligning research, policy, and community practice to strengthen the country’s health systems.
The conference that began on 3rd November with pre-conference sessions on Mental Health, Paediatric Healthcare, among others continues till 7th November with participants continuing to dialogue on how to build a resilient health system for Uganda within the changing funding landscape.
Agriculture & Environment
Makerere Hosts Inaugural Falling Walls Lab Competition as Innovators Pitch Solutions to National Challenges
Students and researchers from Makerere University and other institutions pitched 12 innovations addressing challenges in healthcare, clean energy, agriculture, waste management and community resilience during the inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala, held at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Makerere University.
The competition brought together emerging innovators to present solutions to practical challenges through a three minute pitch, followed by questions from a panel of judges.
Modelled on the Falling Walls format that originated in Berlin, the event required each participant to identify a “wall” a problem or barrier, and demonstrate how their innovation seeks to break it down.
Mudhasi wins with newborn jaundice screening device
Andrew Mudhasi of Makerere University emerged as the overall winner with a score of 90 per cent for a low cost medical device designed to improve newborn jaundice screening across different skin tones.
Mudhasi explained that the device uses optical sensor technology and a skin tone targeting algorithm to provide a rapid reading, with the aim of helping nurses and clinicians identify jaundice more efficiently.
During questions from the jury, Mudhasi said the device had not yet been tested on actual babies but had undergone laboratory testing using simulated skin tones.
He reported an accuracy rate of 94 per cent when the device was compared with laboratory spectrophotometers.
The innovation is intended initially for use in clinics and hospitals, with Mudhasi saying the team is also considering a version that could eventually allow mothers to screen babies at home.
Mudhasi’s innovation has previously received recognition at the African Business Concept Challenge and the iF Design Student Award, according to his presentation.
Rhonda’s innovation tackles diaper waste
Rhoda John of the University of Nairobi emerged in second place with 89.6 per cent for an innovation addressing the problem of used diaper waste.
Under the theme “Breaking the wall of diaper waste and drug soils,” Rhonda explained that her team extracts sodium polyacrylate, the absorbent polymer found in diapers, and replaces the sodium with potassium.
The resulting potassium based superabsorbent material is designed to act as a “water battery” in soil by absorbing and retaining water for plants during dry periods.
John said testing showed a 99 per cent increase in germination and a 23 per cent increase in drought resistance.
The innovation also seeks to reduce the amount of used diapers ending up in landfills and the environmental effects associated with their decomposition.
During the question and answer session, John explained that her team was working with government environmental officials in Nairobi on a pilot collection system to address the challenge of gathering used diapers at scale.
Mahera takes third place with herbal peptic ulcer treatment
Stuart Mahera of Makerere University finished third with 86.2 per cent for a herbal formulation targeting peptic ulcers.
Presenting under the theme “Breaking the wall of Nature and Modern Medicine,” Mahera argued that conventional treatment for peptic ulcers can involve multiple medicines and may be associated with side effects and antimicrobial resistance.
His proposed formulation, MARAC capsules, is intended as a monotherapy, combining properties required for peptic-ulcer treatment in a single capsule.
Mahera said his team had carried out quality control work, including characterisation and dose quantification, and had conducted preclinical trials on laboratory mice.
He also told the jury that an application had been submitted to the National Drug Authority as the team awaits the next stage of the regulatory process.
According to Mahera, the proposed seven day treatment would cost about Shs21,000, compared with the existing 14 day treatment approach.
Innovators present solutions to practical challenges
The remaining presentations covered a wide range of challenges.
Esther Nakungu of Utamu University presented Agri-Track, a digital record keeping solution intended to improve visibility, accountability and management of farm operations and financial information.
Dr. Jimmy Chachiga, a Makerere University participant, presented a solar photovoltaic cooker with a heat storage system designed to provide a cleaner and more reliable cooking option during both sunny and non sunny periods.
His presentation focused on reducing dependence on biomass fuels and addressing the challenges associated with intermittent solar energy.
Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student and senior government fisheries officer, presented a mobile application aimed at helping fish farmers and extension officers report, track and manage disease outbreaks.
Henry Duke Tamale presented a herbal cream targeting antibiotic resistant biofilm infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers.
Marvin Seruwu proposed adapting existing near infrared brain monitoring technology to help detect extra-axial brain bleeds in health facilities where access to CT and MRI equipment is limited.
His proposal seeks to repurpose existing technology towards a diagnostic need that could be particularly important in settings where advanced imaging facilities are not readily available.
Kennedy Kisame presented a poultry alert and diagnosis system combining satellite weather information with computer vision disease detection. The proposed system could be accessed through a smartphone application, SMS or USSD, making it potentially usable by farmers with limited internet access.
Frank Atwiine proposed a solar powered mobile diagnostic van designed to bring ultrasound and other diagnostic services closer to rural communities.
Johnson Makmot, a software and blockchain developer, presented a platform that combines GPS tracking and blockchain-based tokens to incentivise and verify plastic-waste collection in Kampala.
Dr. Nelson Ndugu, from a partner university, presented an artificial intelligence tool designed to translate agricultural research publications into local Ugandan languages and generate voice notes for radio-based extension delivery.
The final presentation came from Dr. Juliet Akola, a Ugandan post doctoral researcher at Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa.
Akola presented a community digital resilience initiative focused on mapping risks in Kampala’s informal settlements, including flooding, fire, poor sanitation, waste management and inadequate infrastructure.
Her proposal seeks to combine local community knowledge with geographical information systems and link identified risks to action plans involving municipalities and other stakeholders.
Nawangwe calls for more investment in innovation
Closing the event, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated all the participants and described their presentations as an important beginning for Makerere University, Uganda and the wider region.
Drawing on his experience attending the Falling Walls conference in Berlin, the Vice Chancellor said initiatives of this nature are important because innovation will play a major role in determining the future of countries.
He encouraged participants to make their pitches more precise by clearly identifying the problem they are addressing, explaining their proposed solution and demonstrating what they have already achieved.
Prof. Nawangwe also welcomed the participation of innovators from other universities and countries, noting that the Kampala event had attracted participants beyond Makerere.
He thanked the Africa Office of the Falling Walls Foundation for its role in bringing the initiative to Makerere and encouraged continued support for innovation.
The Vice Chancellor further linked innovation to Uganda’s growing youth population and the need to develop home-grown solutions to address challenges such as youth unemployment.
The inaugural Falling Walls Lab Kampala ultimately provided a platform for innovators to move ideas beyond the classroom and laboratory and demonstrate how research, technology and creativity can be applied to challenges affecting communities.
| Position | Winner | Institution | Score |
| 1st | Andrew Mudhasi | Makerere University | 90% |
| 2nd | Rhoda John | University of Nairobi | 89.6% |
| 3rd | Stuart Mahera | Makerere University | 86.2% |
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