By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda : The Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) on Friday 17th January, 2025 celebrated the graduation of 5 Laboratory Leadership Fellows and 13 Field Epidemiologists marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its public health sector.
The graduation ceremony, held at the Kabira Country Club in Kampala, was attended by dignitaries including the US Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. William W. Popp, and the Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze.
The Laboratory Leadership Fellowship Program, a collaborative initiative between UNIPH, Makerere University School of Public Health, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aims to build capacity in laboratory leadership and management to support Uganda’s public health response.
In his remarks, Ambassador Popp emphasized the importance of investing in public health, highlighting the critical role that field epidemiologists and laboratory leaders play in detecting and responding to disease outbreaks.
Prof. Wanyenze noted that the program is part of a broader effort to strengthen public health capacity in Uganda, citing the need for specialized skills in areas such as infectious disease surveillance, health informatics, and health economics.
The graduation of the 13 Laboratory Leadership Fellows brings the total number of graduates from the program to 106, with many already making significant contributions to Uganda’s public health response.
As the program continues to grow, stakeholders are calling for greater investment in public health capacity building, including the establishment of a fully fledged National Institute of Public Health.
According to Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, Director of UNIPH, “The program’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration and investment in public health capacity building. We look forward to continuing our work with partners to strengthen Uganda’s public health sector.”
Dr. Riolexus emphasized the need for sustainability, noting that the program’s reliance on external funding poses a risk to its long-term viability. “We need to ensure that the program is institutionalized and funded by the government to guarantee its sustainability,” he said.
Dr. Riolexus also highlighted the program’s impact on Uganda’s public health response, citing examples such as the reduction in response time to disease outbreaks from 80 days to 15 days. “The fellows have made a significant difference in strengthening Uganda’s public health response, and we are committed to continuing this work,” he said.