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

Navigating Complexity Webinar Series Tracing Change in Complex Systems: An Introduction to Ripple Effect Mapping ITuesday, 2nd June 2026 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM EAT Health systems do not change in straight lines. Understanding how interventions produce outcomes in complex environments requires tools that go beyond conventional evaluation frameworks. Ripple Effect Mapping is one such tool, a participatory, visual approach that traces the often unexpected pathways through which change actually happens. Organised by the @CiremHub Hub at @Makerere University School of Public Health in partnership with @UrbanForesight, this session introduces the theory and practice of Ripple Effect Mapping and its applications in public health research, programme evaluation, and policy analysis. Who should attend: Researchers, evaluators, programme managers, and public health practitioners working in complex health systems. What you will gain: A practical introduction to Ripple Effect Mapping and its application in public health evaluation contexts. Presenter: Katie Miller, Consultant, @UrbanForesight Moderator: Mr. Perez Ochanda, Deputy Director, CIREM Hub, MakSPH Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi…

Apply for the Certificate in Applied Health Systems Research – 2026 Intake @Makerere University School of Public Health invites applications for the 2026 intake of the Certificate in Applied Health Systems Research, a short, intensive virtual programme designed for professionals working at the intersection of research, policy, and health system practice. The programme will run virtually from 6–17 July 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:45 PM (EAT). Health system challenges are rarely straightforward. They are shaped by institutional complexity, competing priorities, and real-world implementation constraints. This course is designed to strengthen participants’ ability to produce and apply research that is practical, policy-relevant, and responsive to health system realities. Participants will gain skills in: systems thinking and problem framing; research design and mixed methods; analysing complex health system interactions; translating evidence into policy and practice. The course combines interactive sessions, applied learning, and expert-led discussions tailored to researchers, policymakers, programme implementers, and health professionals seeking stronger capacity in applied health systems research. Fees UGX 740,000 – Ugandan participants USD 250 – International participants Application Deadline 14 June 2026 Apply Here: docs.google.com/forms/d/1SjP…

Follow the Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) channel on WhatsApp for regular updates and engagement: whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbB…

MakSPH Hosts Johns Hopkins Team to Advance Community-Based Drowning Surveillance in Uganda This afternoon, @Makerere University School of Public Health Dean, Prof. @RhodaWanyenze, together with Dr. @DavidMusoke14, Chair of the Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, and Dr. @Oporiah, Head of @TRIADUnit, were delighted to host Prof. William Weiss and Dr. James Kumwenda from @JohnsHopkinsSPH. The engagement highlighted the long-standing collaboration between MakSPH and Johns Hopkins, spanning over three decades in areas including health systems strengthening, public health training, supportive supervision, and research collaboration.

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/regi…

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/regi…

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/regi… 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

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.

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/regi….