ALOYSIUS SSENNYONJO

Community engagement in complex systems isn’t just a buzzword. It can be the difference between success on paper and success in practice. Well, everyone talks about community engagement in intervention design, implementation and evaluation, but have you ever paused to ask: who exactly is the “community”? Sometimes we mean residents who are directly affected by a program. Other times it’s frontline workers, the teachers, health workers, or extension staff, who make or break implementation. In other cases, it’s “policy communities”: coalitions of advocates, experts, and champions who keep an issue alive on the agenda for years. Read more about experiences from the field on the value of effective stakeholder engagement, the techniques and what researchers, evaluators, practitioners and policymakers/donors can do differently to support this agenda linkedin.com/posts/aloysius… #CIREMHub, #Complexity #systemsthinking #CommunityEngagement #dialogue #Uganda #program

Join the CIREM Webinar on Systems Thinking in Public Sector Leadership @Makerere University School of Public Health, through @CiremHub, invites you to the Navigating Complexity Webinar Series session on “Governing the Elephant: Systems Thinking in Public Sector Leadership.” As public sector challenges grow increasingly interconnected, this webinar explores how systems thinking can strengthen national planning, decision-making, and policy implementation in Uganda, offering practical insights from real governance experience. The session is open to policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, students, public health professionals, and anyone interested in systems leadership and national planning. Participants will gain practical perspectives on embedding systems thinking in public sector practice and improving cross-sector collaboration. Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026 | Time: 3:00–4:00 pm (EAT) | Platform: Zoom. Register to join: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

Webinar Invitation: Imagining and Acting on the Complex Future Now @Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), through the Complexity, Innovative Research and Evaluation Methodologies (@CiremHub) Hub, warmly invites you to participate in an upcoming session of the Navigating Complexity Webinar Series, organised in collaboration with RIAHSAH Co. (@RiahsahC). Topic: Imagining and Acting on the Complex Future Now: An Introduction to Systems Informed Foresight® This webinar will introduce participants to systems-informed foresight and explore how institutions can better anticipate, interpret, and act on emerging challenges in complex and rapidly evolving policy environments. Presenter: @m_ngombe Chief Enabler, RIAHSAH Co. Moderator: Dr. @assennyonjo Date: Wednesday, 18th March 2026 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM (East Africa Time) Register to join via Zoom: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

We are proud to announce that @KiwanukaSuzanne , @HMaksph will be a keynote speaker at the 21st #MUEHSA Annual Scientific Conference 2026. She will share insights on strengthening env't health systems to build resilience through governance, coordination & evidence-based action

We congratulate our senior colleagues on their well-deserved promotions approved by the @Makerere University Appointments Board at its 787th meeting (12 March 2026). Dr. Fredrick E. Makumbi, Deputy Dean, has been promoted from Associate Professor to Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, while Dr. Christine Kayemba Nalwadda, Head of CHBS, rises from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor. We celebrate their leadership, scholarship, and continued contribution to strengthening public health training and research at MakSPH.

“Hunger is the root cause behind bad deals in Africa. “@wekesa_amos, cooked on this one. @assennyonjo , allow me forget complexity for once😂.

Kampala at a Crossroads: What New Research Reveals About Mobility, Governance, and the City’s Public Health Risks Gridlock, boda-bodas, polluted air, and unsafe streets are part of everyday life in Kampala, but new research suggests these are not just transport problems. Researchers at @Makerere University School of Public Health are examining how governance, policy choices, and power shape urban mobility and, in turn, public health outcomes in the city. Through a multi-country study spanning Kampala, Kigali, and Lilongwe, the research reveals why some transport options are prioritised while others are neglected, and how these decisions affect safety, equity, and wellbeing. As Kampala grows rapidly, the findings raise urgent questions about whose interests current mobility systems serve, and at what cost. Read the full article: sph.mak.ac.ug/kampala-at-a-c…

To our staff, students, and partners, we look forward to another year of meaningful impact, innovation, and service. We wish you good health, success, and fulfillment in the year ahead. Happy 2026!

Add this to your must. @assennyonjo

📢 This #UHCDay2025, join us in a webinar on Mobility, Costs & Politics: How Urban Systems Shape Access & Progress Towards UHC in African Cities. 🗓️ Today, Dec 12 | 1:00–2:30 PM EAT 🔗 Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist… Explore how transport systems, governance & political choices shape health access, safety & equity. #Mobility #PublicHealth

Doctoral Thesis Defence Invitation: Mr. Henry Komakech | Friday, 19 December 2025 Professor @RhodaWanyenze, the Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), welcomes you to the blended public doctoral thesis defense of Mr. Henry Komakech this week on Friday, 19 December 2025. Thesis topic: “ Effects of refugee repatriation on health services for refugee and host populations in three West Nile districts .” Candidate: Mr. Henry Komakech 🗓️Date: Friday, 19 December 2025 ⏲️Time: 10:00 AM (EAT) Zoom Link (Register in advance for this meeting): 🔗bit.ly/HenryKomakech Physical Attendance Venue: 📌Dean’s Conference Room, School of Medicine, Makerere University, New Mulago Hospital Complex Komaketch's study assessed the impact of refugee repatriation on health service delivery in Adjumani, Arua, and Moyo districts. The findings indicate that repatriation led to significant disruptions in health services as humanitarian partners withdrew, resulting in reduced financing, shortages of skilled health workers, and the closure or relocation of health facilities, particularly in former refugee settlements. Following repatriation, district health teams assumed full responsibility for health service planning, management, and delivery under a decentralized and integrated health system. While integration strengthened government ownership, the transition was inadequately resourced. Post-repatriation funding relied almost entirely on the government’s Primary Health Care grant, with limited continued support from development partners. This funding gap contributed to shortages of medicines, essential supplies, equipment, and human resources, placing sustained pressure on district health systems serving both former refugees and host communities. There are some key policy implications, including; 1. Refugee repatriation, if not adequately planned, can weaken local health systems and reduce service availability. 2. Transition from humanitarian to government-led health service delivery requires phased financing, human resource absorption plans, and infrastructure support. 3. Former refugee settlement areas remain particularly vulnerable to service gaps following facility closures or relocations. Join the conversation in the Public PhD Defense coming up this Friday

@MakSPH It was a great pleasure contributing to Henry's PhD journey as an internal examiner.

The School acknowledges the rigorous scholarly engagement of the examining team, led by Prof. Stella Neema as Opponent, with Dr. Stephen Langole serving as External Examiner and Dr. @assennyonjo and Dr. Muhwezi Wilson Winstons as Internal Examiners. Appreciation is also extended to the doctoral committee and the supervisory team: Prof. @GarimoiOrach and Dr. Lynn M. Atuyambe, for their sustained academic guidance. The defence was ably chaired by Dr. @cnalwadda.

Successful PhD Defence: Mr. Henry Komakech @Makerere University School of Public Health has recorded another successful Public PhD Defence following Mr. Henry Komakech’s defence today of his doctoral thesis titled Effects of repatriation of refugees on health services in three West Nile districts, Uganda. This milestone brings the total number of successful PhD defences in the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences to five for the year, reflecting a strong and productive doctoral training environment.

As the year comes to a close, we are grateful for the partnerships and conversations that shaped 2025. Sharing our CIREM Hub Christmas and New Year card, with thanks to everyone who has been part of the journey.

UHC Day 2025 Webinar: How Urban Mobility Shapes Access, Costs, and Health in African Cities @Makerere University School of Public Health, through the Politics of Urban Mobility in Africa (PUMA) Consortium, invites you to the 2025 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day Webinar titled Mobility, Costs & Politics: How Urban Systems Shape Access and Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage in African Cities, taking place this Friday, December 12, 2025. The session brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine how transportation systems, governance structures, and political choices shape access to health and financial protection across African cities. Organised by @MakSPH, @Uni_Rwanda, @KUHeS_mw, @CanterburyCCUni, and @UAntwerpen, in collaboration with @CiremHub. The webinar will run from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EAT (12:00–1:30 pm CAT | 10:00–11:30 am GMT). Participants can register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist….

Preliminary findings from the Kampala policy analysis show a highly populated but fragmented policy environment, characterised by overlapping mandates, weak inter-agency coordination, and limited accountability for mobility-related health outcomes. The scoping review revealed major evidence gaps on governance dynamics, political incentives, and policy implementation across Sub-Saharan African cities. During group discussions, stakeholders examined institutional barriers, contextual constraints, and priority evidence needs to inform the project’s next phase. Closing the meeting, Prof. Kiwanuka reaffirmed MakSPH’s commitment to collaborative research and thanked NIHR for investing in evidence that supports equitable and sustainable urban mobility.

@MakSPH hosts the secretariat of the three-country PUMA consortium, working alongside the @Uni_Rwanda and @KUHeS_mw, with support from academic advisors at the @UAntwerpen and @CanterburyCCUni. During the workshop, the Ugandan team, Dr. @assennyonjo (PI), Dr. Esther Bayiga, and Dr. Jimmy Osuret, outlined the study’s purpose within this partnership. They explained that the project aims to examine how political interests, incentives, and institutional arrangements shape mobility policymaking; compare governance structures and mobility systems across Kampala, Kigali, and Lilongwe; and identify practical opportunities to strengthen mobility governance to improve safety and health outcomes in African cities.

@Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) today convened a multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement workshop for the @NIHRresearch-funded Politics of Urban Mobility in Africa (PUMA) project, “A Political Economy and Comparative Analysis of the Politics and Governance of Mobility in African Cities.” Held at Hotel Africana, the meeting brought together around 20 stakeholders from @GovUganda ministries, @KCCAUG, academia, civil society, and transport sector actors. Opening the workshop, Assoc. Prof. @Suexane emphasised the need for context-driven and evidence-informed engagement to address the increasingly complex mobility and public health challenges in Africa’s rapidly urbanising cities. She commended the project team for fostering an inclusive process that centres governance, power relations, and multi-sector collaboration.

Since the withdrawal of #USAID, health commodities worth more than UGX 79 billion have remained in storage, risking expiry and could potentially reverse service delivery gains. The @gatesfoundation’s support has come at a critical moment to stabilise last-mile distribution and generate analytics to address deeper structural challenges of Uganda's health system. MakSPH, in partnership with the @MinofHealthUG and @JMSUganda, will conduct Strategic Systems Analytics to strengthen Uganda’s supply chain. The research will examine financing gaps, fiscal space, operational inefficiencies, and performance at the subnational and last-mile levels in under 9 months. Read more: news.mak.ac.ug/2025/11/maksph… @RhodaWanyenze @olaro_charles @DianaAtwine @Makerere @BillGates @waiswap