For ten long years, the second floor of Makerere University’s Research Support Centre stood silent—a space full of potential but locked in stagnation. Today, that silence is broken.

In a landmark move, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) has invested $104 million to renovate the unused floor, marking the official handover to contractors. Once complete, the building will house a 100-seat lecture hall, nursing laboratories, and a grants and contracts management office—critical infrastructure for Uganda’s next generation of health professionals.

“This is a joyful moment,” said Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of Makerere University College of Health Sciences. “With partners like IDI and Seed Global Health, we can overcome fundraising challenges and address space needs.”

IDI’s commitment runs deep. Over the years, the institute has rehabilitated more than 250 health facilities nationwide, including the pioneering IDI-Kalangala Clinical Research Centre—the first of its kind on Lake Victoria’s 84-island archipelago.

Dr. Stephen Okoboi, Deputy Head of Research at IDI, emphasized the institute’s philosophy:
“Annually, we deliberately invest 5% of our internal savings into Makerere—because collaboration drives progress.”

The Research Support Centre is part of a multi-country grant to establish similar hubs across Africa, including Zimbabwe and Uganda. For students, researchers, and health workers, this building is more than concrete and steel—it’s a beacon of hope, signaling a future where innovation thrives, and lives are saved.