Speakers
Aggrey Semeere
Dr. Aggrey S. Semeere is an Internal Medicine Specialist and Head of the Prevention, Care, and Treatment Program at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. With over 20 years of clinical and research experience, he leads high-impact initiatives focused on cancer epidemiology, HIV, and non-communicable diseases across East and Southern Africa. Dr. Semeere’s work employs advanced technologies, including DNA amplification and AI-based image analysis, to improve diagnostics for Kaposi’s sarcoma and cervical cancer. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of clinician-scientists dedicated to health equity and evidence-based medicine.
Allan Kengo
Dr. Allan Kengo is a Pharmacometrician at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Cape Town, where he applied advanced population pharmacokinetic and pharmacometric modelling to study drug interactions between tuberculosis and HIV therapies. Dr. Kengo integrates data-driven science with clinical insight to develop quantitative models that enhance treatment outcomes and support precision medicine approaches. His work focuses on translating complex pharmacological data into practical, patient-centred solutions.
Josephine Nayiga
Ms. Josephine Nayiga is the Monitoring and Regulatory Officer and Bioethics Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. Holding a Master of Health Science in Bioethics and a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences, she specialises in research regulation and ethics. Josephine leads bioethics capacity-building initiatives at IDI and has contributed importantly to addressing ethical challenges in HIV research among vulnerable populations. Her work focuses on promoting ethical research practices and sustainable bioethics training to enhance public health and community well-being.
Elly Nuwamanya
Elly Nuwamanya is a Research Health Economist at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, specialising in health economics and outcomes research. With experience in Sweden, South Sudan, and Uganda, he leads economic evaluations and decision-analytic modelling on several IDI grants. Elly’s work covers HIV, TB, cancer, vaccination, and antimicrobial resistance, with over ten peer-reviewed publications. He holds an MSc in Health Economics from the University of Gothenburg and is a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen, also tutoring health economics at Uganda’s National Institute of Public Health.
Kevin Cissy Nabukeera
Ms. Kevin Cissy Nabukeera is an MSc Research Fellow at the African Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. Pursuing a Master’s in Bioinformatics, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. Her research focuses on cancer genomics and immunology, applying bioinformatics, machine learning, and statistical modelling to improve healthcare through evidence-based diagnosis and vaccine design. She leads studies on druggable targets for invasive breast cancer, developing in silico multi-epitope vaccines aimed at advancing immunotherapy.
Morris K. Rutakingirwa
Dr. Morris K. Rutakingirwa is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases Institute, specializing in meningitis and HIV-associated infections. He holds an MBChB and Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from Makerere University. Since joining IDI’s meningitis research team in 2017, Dr. Rutakingirwa has contributed to over 20 influential publications that have helped shape global treatment guidelines, including studies on cryptococcal meningitis and HIV-associated meningitis diagnostics. Recognised for clinical excellence, he was awarded Clinician of the Year (2023/2024) and is currently supported by NIH research training grants to further his work in infectious diseases.
Noela Clara Owarwo
Dr. Noela Clara Owarwo is a Physician and Deputy Head of the Prevention, Care, and Treatment Programme at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. With over ten years of experience, she specialises in Advanced HIV disease and the integration of HIV care with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Dr. Owarwo’s research focuses on precision medicine and treatment outcomes. She is currently investigating long-acting ART and antimicrobial resistance among patients with HIV. Her work advances patient-centred care and improved management strategies in infectious diseases.
Ruth Obaikol
Dr. Ruth Obaikol is a Ugandan health innovation leader and Manager of the Academy for Health Innovations Uganda at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. With a background in surgery and health management, she drives digital health solutions to strengthen service delivery and promote equity. Ruth has led impactful projects including COVID-19 surveillance, immunisation tracking, tuberculosis management, and the scale-up of a digital HIV pharmacy refill program. Currently pursuing a PhD, she is pioneering virtual reality applications for mental health recovery and gender-based violence prevention, while mentoring young innovators to create scalable, people-centred health solutions.
Andrew Walakira
Andrew Walakira is an expert in bioinformatics, statistics, and molecular biology, focusing on computational approaches to understand antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He has conducted extensive research on malaria drug resistance, integrating genomic and transcriptomic data to unravel parasite adaptation and treatment failure mechanisms. Currently, Walakira develops and applies advanced computational tools, predictive models, and data-driven frameworks to improve early detection, surveillance, and mitigation of AMR. His work supports the development of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the global burden of drug-resistant infections.
Racheal Claire Kyomukama
Racheal Claire Kyomukama is a Master’s fellow in Bioinformatics with a focus on data-driven biomedical research to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She is a member of the Combination Drug Investigation Group (CODING) at the African Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences (ACE), Uganda. Racheal specialises in employing in silico methods to design and identify synergistic drug combinations targeting pathogenic microorganisms, advancing innovative solutions against AMR through computational approaches.
Aida Kawuma
Aida Kawuma is a scientist at PumasAI specialising in pharmacometrics, with expertise in analysing a broad range of drugs from small molecules to biologics. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Makerere University, a Master’s degree in Pharmacology, and a PhD in Pharmacometrics from the University of Cape Town. Aida is a member of the MILK Centre modelling group at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, and the Uganda Chapter of Pharmacometrics Africa. Passionate about scientific communication, she advocates for empowering scientists to convey their research clearly and creatively to diverse audiences.
Aida Kawuma
Aida Kawuma is a scientist at PumasAI specialising in pharmacometrics, with expertise in analysing a broad range of drugs from small molecules to biologics. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Makerere University, a Master’s degree in Pharmacology, and a PhD in Pharmacometrics from the University of Cape Town. Aida is a member of the MILK Centre modelling group at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, and the Uganda Chapter of Pharmacometrics Africa. Passionate about scientific communication, she advocates for empowering scientists to convey their research clearly and creatively to diverse audiences.
Barbara Castelnuovo
Dr Barbara Castelnuovo, MD, PhD, is an esteemed Italian clinical researcher specialising in Infectious Diseases, based at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda. Trained at the University of Milan and holding a PhD from the University of Antwerp, she has been instrumental at IDI since 2004. With over 90 publications in peer-reviewed journals, her research emphasizes service delivery and outcomes in infectious diseases through observational studies and operational research. Dr. Castelnuovo leads research capacity-building programs and has participated in numerous clinical trials as an Investigator and Principal Investigator, significantly advancing knowledge and practices in the field of infectious diseases.
Andrew Kambugu
Dr. Andrew Kambugu is a distinguished medical professional and the Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda. With a robust background in infectious diseases and global health, he has dedicated his career to enhancing healthcare outcomes across Africa. Dr. Kambugu’s expertise encompasses clinical research, program management, and policy development, significantly impacting the global response to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. He obtained his medical degree (MBChB) and residency in Internal Medicine (M.Med) at Makerere University. Within the East Africa region, he is a pioneer in the clinical infectious diseases speciality. A prolific researcher, he has published extensively and is recognised as a leader in global health initiatives.
Organising Committee
The Science Fair Organising Committee provide overall planning and guidance for the development of the scientific programme. This includes curating the abstract-driven and invited-speaker sessions and identifying specific research to showcase at the fair. The 2025 IDI Science Fair 2025 is brought to you by these organisers & sponsors:
Our team of fair organisers is diverse, bringing together a range of backgrounds and expertise. Our collective experience encompasses various perspectives, from seasoned industry professionals to fresh innovators.
Stephen Okoboi
Dr. Stephen Okoboi is a public health epidemiologist and Deputy Head of Research at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. Holding a Master of Public Health and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Antwerp, he brings over 20 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming and infectious disease research. Dr Okoboi specialises in innovative HIV prevention strategies, including peer-delivered self-testing and differentiated care models. Honoured with the NIH K43 Emerging Global Leader Award, he is dedicated to translating research into impactful public health policies across Uganda and the East African region.
Susan Ninsiima
Ms. Susan Ninsiima is a Certified Project Manager (PMP®), Clinical Research Coordinator, and Social Scientist with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration. With over 10 years of experience, she has managed community-based clinical trials, health projects, policy initiatives, and social inclusion programs. Susan is known for her servant leadership approach, supporting teams to excel and achieve project goals. She currently supports the EPSILON project, Game Changer programme, and M&E within the research department, focusing on developing systems that improve project and program outcomes.
Medi Ssekitya
Medi Ssekitya is a Web Developer and Software Engineer at the Infectious Diseases Institute with over nine years of experience building responsive, data-driven web applications that automate workflows, enhance organisational efficiency, and reduce costs. Skilled in PHP, JavaScript (ES6+), Laravel, CodeIgniter, MySQL, and MS SQL Server, he applies Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) to streamline processes and improve usability. Medi has developed enterprise systems for HR recruitment system automation, reducing recruitment time by 70% and paper use by 95% as well as e-learning and analytics platforms. His front-end expertise includes Responsive Design, UI/UX Implementation, SEO Optimisation, Accessibility Standards, and RESTful API Integration with CI/CD version control. Medi is passionate about digital transformation through system automation, data warehousing, and performance optimisation. He is currently expanding his expertise in Python, R, AWS Cloud, AI and Machine Learning to strengthen his capacity for data-centric and cloud-based application development.
Fred Ouma
Fred Ouma is the Corporate Communications Specialist at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI). He skillfully brings IDI’s impactful work to life through storytelling that highlights evidence and impact for diverse communities. Fred develops strategic communication plans, crafts adaptable content, and energises staff as brand ambassadors to position the Institute as a preferred partner and trusted reference. Passionate about communications, leadership, and influence, he drives how people think, feel, and act to inspire meaningful engagement and action.
Mathius Amperiize
Mathius Amperiize is a Project Officer at the Infectious Diseases Institute with a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Environmental Health Sciences. An early-career researcher passionate about digital health, infectious diseases, maternal health, non-communicable diseases, and bioethics, Mathius brings extensive experience in research project management. He currently coordinates the SCALE-IT Project, leading capacity-building training for over 500 Research Ethics Committee members, regulatory personnel, and researchers across six East African countries, focusing on protocol review, clinical trial monitoring, and leadership development.
Mawazi Odoa
Mawazi Odoa is a Senior IT Specialist at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, with over 12 years of experience in IT infrastructure management, network and systems administration, and cybersecurity. Holding a Master’s degree in Information Technology, specialising in Computer Security and Management, he is skilled in virtualisation, DevOps, and cloud computing across platforms such as VMware, AWS, and Microsoft Azure. Mawazi is known for leading complex IT projects, optimising operations, and enhancing data security, driving technological innovation and digital transformation within the institute. He is committed to continuous professional development and keeping abreast of emerging technologies in the ever-evolving IT landscape.
Ramothan Wambede
Ramothan Wambede is a Full-Stack Software Engineer at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, with over five years of experience building secure, scalable, and data-driven web applications. He specialises in Laravel and ASP.NET Core, with expertise in RESTful APIs, database architecture, and frontend data visualisation. Ramothan has led the development of health information systems that streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency. Passionate about data science and cloud technologies, he applies tools like Python, R, AWS, Docker, and Kubernetes to support evidence-based decision-making and drive innovation.
William Mugwanya
William Mugwanya is a Senior IT Specialist at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University. With extensive expertise in server and infrastructure management, he specialises in designing, deploying, and maintaining secure, high-performance IT environments that support critical operations. William has successfully led major infrastructure modernisation projects, including server migrations and disaster recovery implementations. His strategic approach and hands-on experience with enterprise technologies make him a key driver of IDI’s digital transformation efforts, continuously enhancing IT systems that empower research, healthcare, and institutional growth.
Ritah Kanyesigye
Ritah Kanyesigye is a Regulatory Affairs Officer with over seven years’ experience supporting clinical research. She ensures compliance with national and international regulatory and ethical standards by managing submissions, approvals, and study documents throughout the research lifecycle. Ritah has led initiatives to digitise regulatory files, streamline study close-out processes, and strengthen institutional documentation systems. Additionally, she supports protocol training, capacity building, and SOP development to enhance research oversight. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to research integrity, ethics, and continuous regulatory improvement within clinical research settings.
Elizabeth Nakazibwe
Elizabeth Nakazibwe is the Executive Coordinator to the Executive Director and Senior Management Team at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University. She provides strategic and operational support to senior leadership, ensuring effective coordination of governance processes, Board and Committee engagements, and institutional communications. Elizabeth plays a key role in aligning leadership priorities with the Institute’s strategic goals, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and governance bodies. Her work reflects a strong commitment to organisational excellence, accountability, and advancing IDI’s mission to strengthen health systems and improve lives across Africa.
Simon Peter Asiimwe
Simon Peter Asiimwe is a multimedia communications and knowledge management professional with extensive experience in development communication, journalism, public relations, advocacy, and social and behaviour change communication. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Uganda Christian University and a Master’s in International Relations from Liverpool John Moores University, with certification in Social and Behaviour Change Communication from Ohio University. Simon develops and implements communication campaigns and advocacy strategies that influence policymakers and the public. He has a background as a news editor and currently serves as Public Engagement Officer at the Infectious Diseases Institute.
Aidah Nanvuma
Aidah Nanvuma, BNS, PG(Dip)PPM, MPH (C), is a dynamic global health nurse with over eight years of diverse experience spanning clinical practice, academic teaching, and global health research. She serves as the Research Capacity Building Coordinator at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University, where she leads mentorship and training programs supporting Master’s, PhD, postdoctoral scholars, and staff in infectious diseases research. Aidah has spearheaded over ten capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening skills and institutional systems across Africa. She holds nursing and project management qualifications and advanced global health certifications, currently pursuing an MPH in Administration and Policy. Since 2023, she has served on the Board of the Uganda Society for Health Scientists, continuing her dedication to equitable capacity development and mentoring future global health leaders.
Paul Gonza
Paul Gonza is a Research Management Professional and public health specialist with over a decade of experience in implementing and managing research projects across diverse funders and partners. As the Senior Research Manager at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University, he provides expert guidance in epidemiology and health systems strengthening across Sub-Saharan Africa. Paul’s core responsibilities include overseeing a broad portfolio of research initiatives, mentoring research teams, and fostering strategic collaborations. His leadership focuses on driving impactful research that advances health outcomes and builds capacity within the research community.