UPHB Articles Volume 10 Issue 4 October -December 2025

Report on the 10th Graduation Ceremony for Advanced Field Epidemiology Fellows and 2nd Graduation Ceremony for Laboratory Leadership Fellows of the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program

Author: Dr Ario R. Alex

By admin Last updated Feb 3, 2026

Date: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Venue: Makerere University School of Public Health Auditorium, Kampala

On Thursday, 29 January 2026, the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) held the 10th Graduation Ceremony for Advanced Field Epidemiology Fellows and the 2nd Graduation Ceremony for Laboratory Leadership Fellows of the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (UPHFP). UPHFP is a public health workforce capacity-building initiative of the Ministry of Health, implemented in collaboration with Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation–Uganda (Baylor Uganda), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). The ceremony took place at the MakSPH Auditorium in Kampala.

The graduation marked the completion of two years of intensive, in-service training in applied epidemiology, laboratory leadership, and public health practice. Fellows presented summaries of their achievements over the training period and delivered detailed presentations of selected projects undertaken during the Fellowship. These presentations demonstrated competencies in disease outbreak investigation, public health surveillance, laboratory systems strengthening, scientific and non-scientific communication, and public health leadership.

Throughout their Fellowship, Fellows contributed directly to Uganda’s response to priority public health threats. Their work included investigations and response activities for outbreaks such as mpox, anthrax, Sudan virus disease, meningitis, COVID-19, and measles, among others. Fellows also implemented projects aimed at strengthening routine and event-based surveillance, improving laboratory and health information systems, and enhancing service delivery and data use at health facility, district, and national levels. Several projects generated program-relevant evidence supporting progress toward national HIV epidemic control targets, including the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals.

Distinguished Guests

The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including senior government officials, development partners, and institutional leaders, notably:

Dr. Alex Riolexus Ario, Director, Uganda National Institute of Public Health
Mr. Daniel Kadobera, FETP/UPHFP Resident Advisor, US CDC
Dr. Dithan Kiragga, Executive Director of Baylor Foundation Uganda. Represented by Dr. Peter James Elyanu, Director, Global Health Security, Baylor Uganda
Dr. Susan Nabadda Ndidde, Commissioner, National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS)
Dr. Simon Nyovuura Antara, Executive Director, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).
Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health & Principal Investigator, Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program
Ms. Kira Koch, representing the WHO Country Representative

The Director General Health Services, represented by Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health.

Dr. Adetinute Mary Boyd, Director, CDC Uganda
The Chief Guest was His Excellency William W. Popp, United States Ambassador to Uganda

Other Dignitaries

Several other dignitaries graced the occasion, including parents and spouses of the graduates; UPHFP Alumni represented by the Field Epidemiology Without Borders (FeWB) President, Godfrey Nsereko, and many others; UNIPH staff; MakSPH staff, notably Dr. Steven Kabwama and others; Ministry of Health staff, notably Dr. Michael Mwanga and colleagues; Mentors of the Fellows including Jackson Were, Richard Walwema, Martha Pedun, and Dr. Fred Monje etc; representatives from Development and Implementing Partner institutions such as Dr. Solome Okware etc; and officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including Mindy Hochgesang, Brittany Gianetti, Yvette Wibabara, Thomas Nsibambi, and Irene Nabusoba.

Graduating Fellows

The graduation ceremony recognized 19 Cohort 2024 Fellows of the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program – 13 from the Advanced Field Epidemiology Track and 6 from the Laboratory Leadership Track. The Fellows were hosted within key departments of the Ministry of Health, national public health programs, and partner institutions, where they undertook high-impact outbreak investigations, surveillance data analyses, epidemiological studies, and quality-improvement initiatives.

Award of Certificates

The ceremony concluded with the award of Certificates of Completion to all graduating Fellows in the Advanced Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Leadership tracks, formally marking their transition into a growing cadre of skilled public health leaders supporting national health security and disease control efforts.