Health
Three Years of Impact: Makerere University Health User Committee Presents Status Report
Makerere University on 11th November 2025 marked a significant milestone as the Health User Committee (Mak-HUC)—established by the Vice Chancellor in 2022 as part of his strategic mandate to strengthen and oversee the University’s health service delivery—formally handed over its three-year report. The event highlighted the committee’s achievements in guiding, monitoring, and improving Makerere University Health Services, presenting a record of progress that has reshaped confidence, strengthened systems, and expanded care for staff and students.
A Call for Integrated and Sustainable Health Services
The Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe emphasized the need for a more integrated, efficient, and sustainable approach to delivering health services for Makerere University staff and students. He noted that while the University does not receive supplies from the National Medical Stores system, its community remains entitled to quality care, urging renewed consideration of how essential services—such as drug access, surgical limits, and special medical cases—can be better supported. He highlighted the importance of practical costing models, especially for extending care to staff dependents, and called for flexibility in managing exceptional cases like complex surgeries or referrals abroad.
The Vice Chancellor also underscored the urgent need to modernize the University Hospital, proposing that Makerere begin incrementally establishing a teaching hospital using existing facilities and leveraging expertise of highly qualified consultants the College of Health Sciences (CHS). He reiterated that government budget ceilings remain a major constraint, but encouraged the committee to develop a concept that could be presented to Council and later supported through strategic engagement with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Throughout his remarks, he applauded the Mak-HUC for its work and reaffirmed that even with the creation of a professional hospital board, the committee must remain central in representing service users.
Aligning Health Services with Sustainable Insurance Models
Prof. Bruce Kirenga the Principal College of Health Sciences responded by clarifying the committee’s efforts to align Makerere’s health services with real insurance models, including cost projections for covering additional family members and encouraging voluntary staff contributions where necessary. He acknowledged the complexity of expanding service coverage—especially in cases of chronic illness or high-cost procedures—but emphasized the committee’s commitment to cautious, sustainable planning. He confirmed that the College is working closely with the Hospital to improve services, attract specialists, and integrate students into the health system, a model that naturally draws academic staff into clinical roles without imposing unrealistic obligations.
Prof. Kirenga also noted the College’s ongoing assessments of facility needs, including dialysis, ICU expansion, and equipment placement, stressing that the ultimate goal is a unified, well-structured health network across the University. He welcomed the Vice Chancellor’s support for transforming existing facilities into a teaching hospital and pledged to refine proposals that reflect both current realities and long-term institutional needs.
Committee Chair Reflects on Three-Year Achievements
Dr. Allen Kabagyenyi, Chair of Mak-HUC, reflected on the three-year journey with gratitude and pride, noting that the committee not only fulfilled its terms of reference but exceeded expectations. She highlighted major gains made under the Vice Chancellor’s support, including transforming the University Hospital into a self-accounting unit—an intervention that unlocked smoother financial management and accelerated service delivery. Dr. Kabagyenyi commended the strong collaboration with the Hospital administration, Human Resources Directorate, and other units, which ensured staffing stability even during institutional transitions.
She pointed to the expansion of referral partnerships—now totaling 29 health facilities nationwide—as a crucial achievement that guarantees continuity of care for staff and students wherever they are. She also emphasized the committee’s work in guiding policies for specialized treatment and cross-border care, strengthening fraud-prevention systems, and advancing digital transformation through an integrated health information system and the new Makerere University Health Services (MakHS) website. Dr. Kabagyenyi noted that these improvements have directly benefited staff and enhanced the overall quality of care, supported by close collaboration with the College of Health Sciences and access to some of the country’s best consultants. She concluded by underscoring the ongoing need for a comprehensive University Health Policy and expressed deep appreciation to the Vice Chancellor and University Management for their unwavering openness and support—attributes she credited for the committee’s success.
Highlights of Service Growth and Infrastructure Upgrades
The Chief, Makerere University Health Services, Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, highlighted the significant progress achieved under the Health User Committee’s oversight, noting especially the steady rise in service utilization and renewed confidence among staff and students. He emphasized that trust in the University Hospital has grown organically—built not through advertising, but through improved patient experience, stronger systems, and word of mouth.
Prof. Byamugisha pointed to major achievements such as expanded Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance, better student access to care, enhanced infrastructure including modernized theatres capable of complex procedures, and upgraded laboratories supported through framework agreements that ensure continuous equipment renewal. He noted that specialized clinics, increased inpatient capacity, and expanded referral networks have strengthened the Hospital’s reach and responsiveness. The Hospital is also taking on more research work and clinical training, partnering with units such as optometry, internal medicine, and the Clinical Trials Unit, with new collaborations—like the MasterCard Foundation—driving further growth.
He reaffirmed that the long-term vision of establishing a fully-fledged Makerere University Teaching Hospital is taking shape through coordinated efforts with the College of Health Sciences. Prof. Byamugisha credited the Vice Chancellor’s support for enabling these strides and expressed deep appreciation to all stakeholders contributing to the continued improvement of health services for the entire University community.
DICTS Unveils Modular Information System & Health Services Website
The Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) presented the newly developed Makerere University Integrated Health Management Information System (MakIHMIS), designed around a modular system that streamlines all hospital processes. The platform integrates eight functional modules, including registration, triage, clinician workflows, inventory and medicines management, pharmacy dispensing, laboratory information management, user management, and linkages to both the Academic and Human Resource Management Information Systems ACMIS and e-HRMS respetively. Most of these modules are already active, enabling smooth patient registration, accurate record-keeping, real-time inventory tracking, and seamless access to student and staff data without duplication. Only two modules—land and insurance—remain under development before the system becomes fully end-to-end. The MakHS website on the other hand features information about hospital services, events, research activities, and staff profiles, offering both the university community and the public a centralized and efficient digital gateway to the hospital’s operations.
The term of the outgoing committee has officially concluded, and preparations are now underway for the incoming committee to assume its duties and continue advancing the work ahead.
The Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) on July 10, 2026, welcomed senior six science students from Ngora High School and Wiggins Secondary School to an inspiring Career Fair aimed at guiding them on careers in health sciences and introducing them to the wide range of academic programmes offered by the College.
The event brought together students pursuing Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB) and Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (BCM), providing them with a unique opportunity to interact with the College leadership, tour laboratories and teaching facilities, and learn first-hand about careers in medicine and other health science disciplines.
Welcoming the students, the College Principal, Prof. Bruce Kirenga, described the College of Health Sciences as one of Africa’s oldest and most distinguished medical schools, with a legacy spanning more than a century.
“We started in 1924, making us one of the oldest medical schools on the continent. You have made the right decision to visit Makerere, and we are delighted to welcome you,” he said.
Prof. Kirenga commended the school administrators and teachers for organizing the visit, noting that exposing learners to university environments early helps them make informed career choices. He explained that the College introduced the Open Day concept after receiving numerous requests from schools seeking career guidance visits.
He congratulated the students for choosing science subjects, describing science as the foundation for solving society’s most pressing challenges.
“You have already made one of the most important decisions by choosing to become scientists. Even more importantly, you have chosen life sciences—a field dedicated to preserving and improving life,” he remarked.
The Principal emphasized that careers in life sciences extend far beyond medicine, encouraging students to remain open-minded as they consider their future.
“Everything that has life requires professionals to keep it healthy—from human beings and animals to crops and the environment. The opportunities are immense, including agriculture, veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences, public health and many other emerging fields.”
He also advised students not to limit themselves to only one academic programme during university applications, recalling instances where highly qualified students narrowly missed admission because they selected only one course.
“Remain open to the opportunities available. Medicine is an excellent profession, but there are many other programmes that are equally rewarding and are shaping the future of healthcare and scientific innovation,” he said.
Prof. Kirenga further encouraged the students to embrace lifelong learning, reminding them that scientific knowledge remains valuable regardless of the career path they eventually pursue.
Addressing the students, the Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Annette Nakimuli, acknowledged the growing competition for admission into medical programmes and urged learners to work hard while keeping an open mind about the diverse opportunities available within health sciences.
She explained that admission into the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme has become increasingly competitive due to the rising number of high-performing applicants.
“This year we witnessed unprecedented competition for government sponsorship, with many applicants scoring triple A at Advanced Level and outstanding grades at Ordinary Level. That tells you that you must prepare yourselves to excel academically,” she said.
Prof. Nakimuli noted that while many students aspire to become medical doctors, the health sector today offers numerous innovative programmes that are equally important.
“There are many programmes that parents, teachers and students are still not familiar with. Biomedical Engineering, for example, is one of the exciting fields driving the future of healthcare, yet many students overlook it because they focus only on medicine.”
She encouraged students to explore emerging disciplines that combine medicine, engineering, technology and research, noting that the future of healthcare increasingly depends on multidisciplinary professionals.
The Dean also introduced students to the structure of the School of Medicine, explaining that it comprises twelve academic departments and two specialised units covering a broad spectrum of clinical disciplines, including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Family Medicine, Anaesthesia and Critical Care, among others.
She explained that students are trained by specialists across these disciplines to become competent general practitioners before pursuing further specialization.
Prof. Erisa Mwaka, the Chair of the Department of Human Anatomy, shared with the students about the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS). He said the school is one of the four schools that make up the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS). As the foundation of medical education, the School provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the biological and molecular sciences that underpin modern healthcare, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The School comprises several departments, including:
- Human Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Pathology
- Microbiology
- Medical Illustration
The School offers undergraduate programmes such as the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, which equips students with strong laboratory, research and analytical skills, and the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, an interdisciplinary programme that integrates engineering, medicine and technology to develop innovative healthcare solutions.
At postgraduate level, the School offers a wide range of master’s and doctoral programmes, including Human Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Bioinformatics, Immunology and Clinical Microbiology, Health Bioethics, Medical Illustration, Pathology and other biomedical specializations that prepare graduates for careers in research, academia, diagnostics, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry. The school also offers a wide range of diploma courses.
Throughout the Career Fair, students interacted with faculty members, toured laboratories and learning facilities, and received guidance on university admission, academic programmes and career prospects within the health sciences.
The Career Fair forms part of the College’s broader outreach programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals by exposing learners to university life and equipping them with the information needed to make informed academic and career decisions.
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