Makerere University Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Families, Parenting and Child Health, Dr Godfrey Siu, has been appointed the new Director of the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) School of Medicine, replacing Dr Herbert Muyinda.
Dr Siu, who joined Makerere University in 2003, described his appointment as a sign of trust from the University, the College of Health Sciences, and School of Medicine Leadership.
He commended colleagues who participated in the appointment process, and paid tribute to three former Directors of CHDC, Dr Jessica Jitta, Prof Anne Katahoire and Dr Herbert Muyinda, noting that they were not only heads of department but exceptional leaders of the centre.
“I would like to thank the outgoing Director, the University leadership, the College, and particularly the School of Medicine leadership under Prof. Annettee Nakimuli. My interactions with you over the past few years have been very uplifting. You encourage everyone, and I have never felt insecure under your leadership. These are some of the factors that gave me confidence to accept this responsibility,” Dr Siu said.
He highlighted CHDC’s uniqueness, noting that it offers the CHS what no other unit at the University does. He observed that while multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity are widely discussed, few institutions fully understand or harness their value.
Dr Siu pledged to continue advancing the Centre’s vision and mission, which strongly align with Makerere University’s goal of taking the University to the community and promoting research-led and research-intensive work.
He paid tribute to Dr Muyinda and his predecessors for registering major achievements during their tenure.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, outgoing Director Dr Herbert Muyinda, who served for eight years, outlined key milestones. He noted that one major achievement was safeguarding the Centre’s identity at a time when its mandate was unclear, particularly during efforts to recruit additional staff in biostatistics, public health, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
This challenge prompted engagement with University leadership, resulting in clarification of CHDC’s status and the development of a policy document defining the position of research centres within the College and other institutions.
Dr Muyinda also highlighted CHDC’s strong community engagement, citing long-term research in five districts in northern Uganda since 2011, which has contributed to HIV and AIDS interventions. Other initiatives include malaria interventions led by Dr Arthur Mpimbaza in Busoga, Lango, Eastern, and Northern Uganda, and the Parenting for Respectability project, which has influenced policy on child protection and responsible parenting.
He further noted CHDC’s contribution to the rollout of the HPV vaccine in Uganda through work led by Prof Anne Katahoire and Dr Banura who retired.
Another milestone was the restructuring of research activities into six research programmes: Health Systems Research for Malaria Control and Elimination; Non-Communicable Diseases; Child Development and Wellbeing; Families, Parenting and Child Health; Capacity Building; and Disability and Health Technologies. This approach has enabled the Centre to attract over 20 new research grants, produce numerous publications, and train Masters and PhD students.
In terms of infrastructure, Dr Muyinda said the Centre contributed to tarmacking its parking space and acquired assets from USAID, including a Toyota Land Cruiser, office furniture, computers, and other equipment.
Dr Mpimbaza described Dr Muyinda’s tenure as calm and stable, attributing the Centre’s harmony to his leadership style, which resolved challenges amicably.
Challenges
Dr Muyinda also outlined challenges, including understaffing, which limits the Centre’s ability to attract and manage more grants, forcing reliance on costly external expertise. He also raised concerns about the asbestos roof, describing it as a health hazard that requires urgent attention.
Dr Aggrey Dhabangi echoed the concern, warning that prolonged exposure to asbestos poses serious health risks to staff.
Dr Muyinda further cited the uncertain research funding environment as a major concern, calling for innovative approaches to sustain research financing.
Despite these challenges, CHDC continues to make significant contributions to health sciences, producing postdoctoral fellows, PhDs, and Masters Graduates, while building capacity at community and institutional levels.
Calling for unity, Dr Siu urged staff and partners to build on the momentum of the handover. “Let us work together to champion healthier children, mothers, and communities. Our progress depends on teamwork and collective support,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Dean School of Medicine Prof. Nakimuli acknowledged CHDC’s strong performance in research and mentorship, noting its multidisciplinary nature as a model of what a university department should be. She commended Dr Muyinda for mentoring future leaders and thanked Dr Siu for accepting the responsibility.
She urged staff and students to support the new Director, assuring continued backing from the School and College.
Ms Josephine Nalweyiso, Human Resource Officer at the College of Health Sciences, praised Dr Muyinda’s cooperation and responsiveness, noting that CHDC consistently handled human resource matters efficiently.
