Dr. Adams Kamukama

Dr. Adams Kamukama

MBChB (MUK), MPH (MUK), & Advanced Field Epidemiology Fellow
Email: kamaa25@gmail.com | akamukama@uniph.go.ug
Telephone: +256 779314504

Host Site: National Malaria Control Program (NMCP)

Host Mentor: Dr. Issa Makumbi, Mr. Joshua Kayiwa,Mr. Edirisa Junior Nsubuga

ABOUT THE FELLOW

Dr. Adams Kamukama is a seasoned epidemiologist with a medical background and a Master of Public Health degree. He is passionate about global

health security, public health emergencies, and emergency medical services. During his 2-year fellowship in Advanced Field Epidemiology, Dr. Kamukama was based at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), Uganda’s central hub for coordinating public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. His training at PHEOC equipped him with advanced knowledge and practical

skills in emergency coordination and response. He demonstrated strong leadership, proficiency in handling large datasets, and expertise in interpreting data to guide decision-making. Dr. Kamukama also supported the Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) unit through monitoring and

triaging community health signals, contributing to early detection and timely responses to public health threats.

  Achievements at the Host Site

• Mpox Response: Served as the lead during
• the Mpox outbreak response in Nakasongola
• District, September–November 2024).
• Epidemiological Bulletin: Led the preparation of Uganda’s national weekly epidemiological bulletin, which informs stakeholders about the country’s public health status.
• Supportive Supervision: Conducted Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) support supervision and mentorships for health centers in Kiryandongo, Mubende, Bunyangabu, and Madi-Okolo districts.
• Joint External Evaluation (JEE): Acted as a rapporteur during the 2023 JEE at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
• AVoHC-SURGE Training: Participated in the Africa CDC/WHO training for 100 emergency responders, focusing on strengthening response teams duringemergencies.

Fellowship program specific achievements

Outbreak Investigations 

• Lead investigator:

• •           Cholera outbreak in Kayunga District, 2023.

• Contributor: 

• • Anthrax outbreak in Ibanda District, 2023.
  • Blackwater fever outbreak in Bukomansimbi  District, 2024.

Surveillance 

• Analysis of DHIS2 Surveillance Data: ǿ Trends of road traffic injuries in Uganda,  2012–2023.

• •  Performance of emergency medical  services in Uganda, 2020–2023.

• Led mortality surveillance efforts in Isingiro  District, 2023.

Publications 

• Lead Author: 

1. Cholera outbreak linked to contaminated  river water in Kayunga District, Uganda,  June–August 2023 (Under review, BMC  Infectious Diseases).
2. Descriptive analysis of trends of road traffic  injuries in Uganda, 2012–2023 (Under internal  review).

• Co-Author: 

1. Sudan Virus Disease Super-spreading in  Uganda, 2022 (BMC Infectious Diseases). 2. Anthrax outbreak investigation in Ibanda  District, 2023 (Under review).

Editorial Contributions 

• Edited the UNIPH Epidemiological Bulletin  (Volume 8, Issue 4, 2023).
• Published three articles in the UNIPH  Epidemiological Bulletin:

1. Cholera outbreak in Kayunga District, 2023. 2. Road traffic injury trends in Uganda, 2012– 2023.
2. Emergency medical services assessment in  Uganda, 2020–2023).

Conference Presentations 

• The 9th National Field Epidemiology  Conference (2023), Kampala.
• The 23rd Uganda Society for Health Scientists  Annual Conference (2024), Kampala.
• The 3rd National Health Promotion  Conference (2024), Kampala.
• The 10th National Field Epidemiology  Conference (2024), Kampala.

Summary of Epidemiological Study: 

 Title:  Cholera Outbreak Investigation  in Kayunga District 

Background: Cholera is endemic in Uganda began following a funeral of the index case in  Kayonjo, an inland village on July 1, 2024. Eleven  days later, cases were reported in the distant  Lusenke Village. We observed evidence of open  defecation, bathing, and washing clothes along the  river banks where water for drinking and domestic  use was harvested. Using unboiled/untreated  river water domestically (AOR=4.5, CI=1.2-17) and  drinking it in addition to using it domestically  further increased the likelihood of cholera  infection (AOR=17, CI=3.8-78).

Methods: We defined a suspected case as: onset  of acute watery diarrhea during June 24–August  29, 2023 in a resident of Kayunga District aged ≥2  years. A confirmed case was a suspected case  with Vibrio cholerae cultured from stool. We  described cases, conducted an environmental  assessment and performed an un-matched  case-control study in Lusenke Village which was  the epicenter of the outbreak. We used logistic  regression to identify factors associated with  cholera infection.

Results: We identified 78 case-patients (34  suspected and 44 confirmed); 10 (13%) of whom  died. Males were more affected than females  (attack rate (AR)=2.4 vs 1.6/1,000). Lusenke Village  was most affected (AR=41/1,000). The outbreak

Conclusion: This was likely a propagated outbreak  triggered by a funeral of a suspected case whose  source of infection was unknown and amplified  through contamination of river water used and drank  by village members. The outbreak ended within  one week after a public health ban on drinking and  use of River Nile water, community sensitization  and providing prophylactic antibiotics.

Keywords: Cholera, Outbreak, Kayunga District,  River Nile, Uganda

Key lessons learnt during the fellowship

• Outbreak investigation and response.

● Designing and implementing epidemiological  studies and intervention projects.

• Analyzing and interpreting large datasets.
• Scientific writing and public health  communication.
• Leadership and mentorship.
• Strengthening disease surveillance systems.

Next Steps

Dr. Kamukama aspires to advance his career  in epidemiology, disease surveillance, public  health emergency preparedness and response,  and emergency medical services. His goal is to  contribute to strengthening the global health  security agenda.

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