Department of Community and Public Health

Welcome to the Department of Community and Public Health!

Established in 2015, the Department of Community and public health exists to promote community health and well-being primarily through teaching, research, and community service.

We are anchored in the mission of the university, which is to provide high-standard training, and engage in quality research and outreach for socio-economic transformation and sustainable development.

The department has both national and international students and welcomes persons from different disciplines and this has promoted a healthy intercultural and inter-professional space that fosters growth and innovation.

We train our students and officers to be able to respond to the national development plan and sustainable development goals.

 

Mission and Objectives
The mission of this program is to train public health specialists who can provide leadership in addressing national and regional health care challenges form the integrated community, clinical, preventive and health promotion health perspective.

Objectives

  • To strengthen the capacity to implement health programs at national and sub-national levels in Uganda
  • To create a pool of public health trainees with skills to design, implement and evaluate health interventions
  • To strengthen the collection and utilization of health information to improve the quality of health services
  • Strengthen the model of Public Health training that focuses on student-centered learning and academic independence.
  • To strengthen the capacity for implementing health services at the district level;
  • To provide leaders with the capacity and skills to meet the demands arising from the decentralization policy of the Ugandan Government;
  • To strengthen the capacity to carry out Public Health research;
  • To strengthen the capacity of trainees to deliver quality health services;
  • To prepare public health practitioners to work within an integrated multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral health system
  • To enhance the capacity to contribute to reduction of morbidity and mortality;
  • To promote linkages between Busitema University and the Ministries providing health services;
  • To increase the awareness and appreciation of the importance of public health as a means to enhance the attractiveness of careers in public health;
  • To promote linkages between institutions providing public health training, locally, regionally and worldwide.

List of staff members

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David Mukunya
MBChB, Mphil, PhD, DPPM, Cert Adm Law
Senior lecturer and Chair of Department
Epidemiology, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, Non Communicable Diseases
+256775152316
 

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Peter Olupot Olupot
MBChB, MPH, PhD, SRF, FUNAS
Professor
Pediatric infectious diseases, Epidemiology, Malaria
 

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Benon Wanume
MBChB, MMed
Lecturer
Community Health
 

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Dr Joseph KB Matovu
BA, MHS, PhD, EDCTP Career Development Fellow
Senior Lecturer
HIV/AIDS (HIV prevention research); integration of social and behavioral science research into epidemiological research; implementation science; impact evaluation
contact
 

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Dr David Okia
MBChB; MPH
Lecturer
Health Systems, Infectious disease control in hard to reach districts. Patient centered care.
 

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Prof. Yovani Lubaale
BSc Stat, MSc, PhD
Professor
Biostatistics
 

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Dr Agnes Napyo
BSN, PGD DPPM, MPH, PhD
Lecturer
Maternal Newborn Child Health, HIV/AIDS, Epidemiology, Biostatistics
0773657967
 

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Dr. David Soita
MPH, PhD
Lecturer
Primary health care. Non-communicable diseases
 

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Dr. Charles Okolimong
BEHS, MPH, ADHSM, DipCMCH
Lecturer
Tuberculosis, Health Systems
 

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DrRebekkah Nekaka
MBChB, MPH, PhD(c)
Lecturer
Medical education, Public Health
 

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Dr. Twatwa Jeremiah
MBChB; MPH
Lecturer
Population and demographics, Health Systems
 

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Ms. Nancy Amejje
BS.WASA MPH
Lecturer
Research Ethics, Health Systems
 

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Dr. Racheal Namulondo
BA (Econ), MA (Econ), PhD (Econ)
Lecturer
Health Economics; food systems and nutrition research; impact evaluation
 

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Dr. Mukone George
MBChB; MPH
Lecturer
Health Systems
 

Teaching and Learning 

We currently one program, Master of Public Health and the courses we offer are listed here

Student enrollment 

Currently we have 35 students enrolled into our MPH program

Teaching methods / approaches 

We have embraced a blended learning approach that is student centered and embraces the problem based learning philosophy.

List of Publications , Conference Papers and Patents 

 

2021 Transfusion management of severe anaemia in African children: a consensus algorithm. Maitland K, Kiguli S, Olupot-Olupot P, Opoka RO, Chimalizeni Y, Alaroker F, Uyoga S, Kyeyune-Byabazaire D, M'baya B, Bates I, Williams TN, Munube D, Mbanya D, Molyneux EM, South A, Walker AS, Gibb DM, George EC; TRACT Stakeholders meeting group. Br J Haematol. 2021 May 6. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17429. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33955552

 

 

2021 Randomized controlled trial of oxygen therapy and high-flow nasal therapy in African children with pneumonia. Maitland K, Kiguli S, Olupot-Olupot P, Hamaluba M, Thomas K, Alaroker F, Opoka RO, Tagoola A, Bandika V, Mpoya A, Mnjella H, Nabawanuka E, Okiror W, Nakuya M, Aromut D, Engoru C, Oguda E, Williams TN, Fraser JF, Harrison DA, Rowan K; COAST trial group. Intensive Care Med. 2021 May 5. doi: 10.1007/s00134-021-06385-3. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33954839

 

2020 Paenibacillus infection with frequent viral coinfection contributes to postinfectious hydrocephalus in Ugandan infants.

Paulson JN, Williams BL, Hehnly C, Mishra N, Sinnar SA, Zhang L, Ssentongo P, Mbabazi-Kabachelor E, Wijetunge DSS, von Bredow B, Mulondo R, Kiwanuka J, Bajunirwe F, Bazira J, Bebell LM, Burgoine K, Couto-Rodriguez M, Ericson JE, Erickson T, Ferrari M, Gladstone M, Guo C, Haran M, Hornig M, Isaacs AM, Kaaya BN, Kangere SM, Kulkarni AV, Kumbakumba E, Li X, Limbrick DD Jr, Magombe J, Morton SU, Mugamba J, Ng J, Olupot-Olupot P, Onen J, Peterson MR, Roy F, Sheldon K, Townsend R, Weeks AD, Whalen AJ, Quackenbush J, Ssenyonga P, Galperin MY, Almeida M, Atkins H, Warf BC, Lipkin WI, Broach JR, Schiff SJ.Sci Transl Med. 2020 Sep 30;12(563):eaba0565. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba0565.PMID: 32998967 



 

2019 Transfusion Timing and Volume in African Children with Severe Anemia. Reply. Maitland K, Olupot-Olupot P, Walker AS. N Engl J Med. 2019 Oct 24;381(17):1687-1688. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1911668.PMID: 31644854

 

2019 Co-trimoxazole or multivitamin multimineral supplement for post-discharge outcomes after severe anaemia in African children: a randomised controlled trial. Maitland K, Olupot-Olupot P, Kiguli S, Chagaluka G, Alaroker F, Opoka RO, Mpoya A, Walsh K, Engoru C, Nteziyaremye J, Mallewa M, Kennedy N, Nakuya M, Namayanja C, Kayaga J, Nabawanuka E, Sennyondo T, Aromut D, Kumwenda F, Musika CW, Thomason MJ, Bates I, von Hensbroek MB, Evans JA, Uyoga S, Williams TN, Frost G, George EC, Gibb DM, Walker AS; TRACT trial group.Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Oct; 7(10):e1435-e1447. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(19)303456. PMID:31537373

 

List of Grants

  • Research grant from the Health Professions Education and Training for Strengthening the Health System and Services in Uganda – HEPI-SHSSU. This grant was awarded to conduct a research study on ‘Challenges faced by public transport operators in the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures’ (PI – Napyo Agnes Kasede, Co-PIsMatovu Joseph, David Mukunya)

Research grant from the Health Professions Education and Training for Strengthening the Health System and Services in Uganda – HEPI-SHSSU. This grant was awarded to conduct a research study on “Long-term outcomes of infants born to women with obstructed labour in eastern Uganda”(Co-PIs Napyo Agnes Kasede, David Mukunya)