Staff

Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, Program Director

Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze (MBChB, MPH, PhD) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Program Director MakSPH-CDC Fellowship and Dean Makerere University School of Public Health. Dr Wanyenze, an alumnus of the MakSPH-CDC Fellowship, has wide experience in public health including research, teaching, clinical, program management, and policy development. Dr Wanyenze was the founder Program Manager for the Makerere University Joint AIDS Program (MJAP), a position she held for four years, before joining Makerere University School of Public Health in 2008. Her field of interest is infectious diseases (HIV and Tuberculosis), maternal and child health. Over the last 14 years, she has conducted various studies and has published widely in this field. Dr Wanyenze has also served on Boards of various Institutions.

Mob: +256772419762

Email: [email protected]

Dr Patrick Tusiime – Program Co-Director

Dr Bao-Ping Zhu, Resident US CDC Technical Advisor

Dr. Bao-Ping Zhu, MD, PhD, MS (EIS ’96) is currently a Medical Officer with the Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), serving as the Resident Advisor for the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program in Kampala, Uganda. Prior to his current position, he served as WHO’s Training Officer for the Turkey Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP, 2011-2014); US Expert Advisor to the Chinese FETP (2007-2011); State Epidemiologist, Director of the Section for Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, and Chief of the Office of Epidemiology at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (2003-2007); Supervisory Epidemiologist at US CDC (1998-2003); and Principal Research Scientist at the Battelle Memorial Institute, USA (1993-1996). He has also served as a technical expert or consultant for WHO, UNICEF, ministries of health of multiple countries, US CDC and state health departments on numerous occasions.

Mob: +256772139021

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Alex Ario Riolexus, Field Coordinator

Dr Ario is a Medical Doctor and Public Health Specialist with extensive knowledge in epidemiology, health policy, management and planning, health systems reform and quality improvement approaches as well as models for management of chronic conditions. Dr Ario holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBchB), Advanced Diploma in Health Services Management (ADHSM) and Master of Public Health (MPH) from Makerere University. He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from California University. He has worked in various capacities in government and non-governmental organisations including as Hospital Medical Superintendent and District Health Officer as well as Health Advisor with Health Sector Support Program. Dr. Ario also worked as Care and Treatment Manager in the Uganda Ministry of Health, STD/AIDS Control Programme; and served as a member in numerous Technical Working Groups and Steering Committees. Dr. Ario has been the Chair of the Technical Working Group for development of the Uganda National Institute of
Public Health and is currently the Ag. Director of the Institute.

Mob: +256772363348

Email: [email protected]

Steven Ndugwa Kabwama, Training Manager

Steven Ndugwa Kabwama, has been the Training Manager on the Public Health Fellowship

Program since March 2017. He holds a BSc in Food Science & Technology and MSc Public Health. He previously worked on several value-chain enhancement projects with Save the Children & JOBS International in Nakasongola District, and with the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development in Kampala and Bushenyi Districts. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Danish State Scholarship at the University of Southern Denmark to pursue his MSc Public Health (Global Health Specialization) where he later worked as an instructor and tutor for advanced epidemiology and applied biostatistics. He was also a course coordinator for the introductory course in epidemiology and biostatistics for new students. Steven was part of the inaugural cohort of fellows on the Public Health Fellowship Program (cohort 2015) and was the recipient of the award for outstanding performance on the program.

Mob: +256753024727

Email: [email protected]

Daniel Kadobera, Field Supervisor

Daniel Kadobera, the PHFP Field Supervisor, is an Epidemiologist with specialty in Tobacco Control, which is the leading cause of death globally. Mr Kadobera holds a MSc. in Field Epidemiology from University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and Bachelors of Statistics of Makerere University Kampala. He is a graduate of the John Hopkins Leadership Program in Tobacco Control. Mr Kadobera is a former senior data analyst for Makerere University/Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance System and has completed the US CDC/MoH tobacco control fellowship during which time he supported the successful passing of the comprehensive Tobacco Control Law in Uganda.

Mob: +256701971453

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Benon Kwesiga, Field Supervisor

Dr Benon Kwesiga, MBChB, MPH, (Advanced FETP) is a Field Supervisor in the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program. Benon graduated an advanced FETP graduate in the pioneer cohort of Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program in 2017 before being retained as a field supervisor.  He supervises and mentors Advanced FETP residents during their projects that include outbreak investigations and other emergency responses, surveillance data analysis, scientific writing and communication (Abstracts, manuscripts, conference presentations), quality improvement projects and health economic analysis among others. He is also involved in all other activities of the UPHFP Secretariat including recruitment of new residents and ensuring a favorable training environment for residents at their host institutions. Previously, Benon worked as a Medical Officer at Kitagata Government Hospital and later as a Team Lead/Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Person within Uganda’s Ministry of Health – Regional Performance Monitoring Teams.

Mob: +256773184371

Email: [email protected]

Lilian Bulage, Scientific Writer

Lilian Bulage, is a Scientific Writer in the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Prgoram. Lilian graduated as an advanced FETP graduate in the pioneer cohort of Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program in 2017.  Lilian is being funded by the African Field Epidemiology Network to support the program in scientific writing related work. Lilian has a biological science background from Kyambogo University and a Master of Health Services Research from Makerere University School of Public Health. She has worked as a mentor and trainer for the Frontline FETP in Uganda. She has also worked at the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) specifically the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory a South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accredited and WHO Supra-National Reference Laboratory. At NTRL, Lilian worked as a Laboratory scientist in-charge of External Quality Assurance activities for the South Eastern TB Zone. At NTLP, Lilian worked as a secretary in-charge of the NTLP Tuberculosis Research and Innovations Forum. In-addition, she was a member of the WHO National Stop transmission of Polio (NSTOP) where she actively participated in conducting surveillance related activities. Lilian has publications about tuberculosis, HIV, and outbreak related work such as typhoid as lead author.

Mob: +256-782-623-624

Email: [email protected]

Susan Mawemuko, Grants & Administration Manager

Susan Mawemuko is the Grants & Administration Manager for Makerere University School of Public Health Fellowship Program. She has worked extensively in areas of financial management, grants management and contracting, human resource management and general management for capacity building programs, prevention care and treatment programs for HIV, disease surveillance and distance learning initiatives at Makerere University School of Public Health and its collaborative programs for the last 14 years. Ms Mawemuko holds a MBA and MA (SSPM) from the University of Bath, England and Makerere University respectively. She is a member of the MBA writers, Chartered Management Institute, UK, Society for Research Administrators International and Rotary International.

Mob: +256772785374

Email: [email protected]

Juliet Namagulu, Administration Officer

Juliet Namagulu is the Administration Officer for the Public Health Fellowship Program – PHFP, which she joined in 2015. She is responsible for office management, human resource and finance administration duties. She holds a MMS, PGD. HRM from Uganda Management Institute and BA (Arts) from Makerere University. Prior to joining the PHFP, she worked with Action on Disability and Development Uganda Program (ADD-UG). While with ADD, she served as Finance and Administration Officer and before that as program officer for a period of 10 years. She also served as a committee member on the Disability Stakeholders HIV/AIDS Committee (DSHAC), which was responsible for spearheading advocacy of mainstreaming disability issues in national HIV/AIDS programs.

Mob: +256703592729

Email: [email protected]