Makerere University has promoted Prof. Peter Waiswa from the rank of Associate Professor to Full Professor of Health Policy, Planning and Management at the School of Public Health, following the decision of the Appointments Board at its 811th meeting held on 10 July 2026.
The promotion recognises his outstanding contributions to the University’s core functions of teaching and learning, research and innovation, institutional development, mentorship, leadership, and service to society.
Throughout his academic career, Prof. Waiswa has distinguished himself as a leading scholar in implementation science, health systems strengthening, policy and health services research. His work has influenced practice and decision-making in Uganda, across Africa, and globally.
His research has strengthened the connection between evidence generation, policy development, and implementation of health programmes, particularly in resource-limited settings where stronger health systems are critical to improving population health outcomes.
Reflecting on the promotion, Prof. Peter Waiswa described the recognition as a collective achievement, acknowledging the contribution of his students, colleagues, partners, and communities that have supported his journey.
“I am deeply grateful to Makerere University for this promotion. This is not a personal achievement, but a recognition of the collective work of my students, colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve.
We must build systems, mentor the next generation, and work with government to deliver evidence-based results so that no one is left behind. The journey continues’ ’he emphasized of the task ahead
A Public Health Scholar with Continental and Global Influence
Prof. Waiswa is recognised as one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading public health researchers, with a research portfolio that has shaped health systems thinking and practice.
According to Google Scholar data, Prof. Waiswa has accumulated 17701 citations, with an H-index of 57 and an i10-index of 209. Since 2021, his work has received 10,649 citations, including more than 2,400 citations in 2025, reflecting the growing global relevance of his scholarly work.
In 2020, Expertscape ranked Prof. Waiswa among the top 0.22 percent of global authors on infant mortality, recognising his contribution to advancing knowledge in child health and survival.
Leading Research, Innovation and Health Systems Transformation
Prof. Waiswa has led major multi-sectoral research and implementation science initiatives that have contributed to strengthening health systems in Uganda, Africa, and globally.
Between 2021 and 2024, he led a multi-sectoral team across 28 Anglophone and Francophone African countries through the Digital Health Payment Initiative and Research (DHPI-R) for campaign health workers. The research is strengthening accountability in health campaigns, informing policy discussions with global partners including WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation, and contributed to the establishment of Digital Health Payment Initiative Centres at Makerere University, Uganda, and the University of Dakar, Senegal.
In 2025, Prof. Waiswa led a team in implementing the Uganda Newborn Programme, one of the country’s major health systems strengthening initiatives, supporting more than 120,000 newborns and sick newborns through a regional and life-course approach.
Prof. Peter Waiswa grew up in Naigobya Village, Luuka District, Uganda where early experiences shaped his lifelong dedication to improving health. Witnessing newborn and community health challenges inspired his commitment to building resilient, equitable health systems.
Building the Next Generation of Researchers
Beyond his research contributions, Prof. Waiswa has played a significant role in mentorship and capacity building. He has mentored numerous PhD graduates and emerging researchers who are now contributing to health programmes, academia, and policy across Africa and the globe.
In 2025, he was elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in recognition of his transformative contributions to research and innovation in women’s health, maternal, newborn and child health, and health policy.
Driving Future Health Innovations
As of 2026, Prof. Waiswa, in collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Makerere University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), is leading the Ekyaalo Diagnostics project — a low-cost, AI-powered innovation designed to reduce delays in breast cancer diagnosis and improve access to timely care, especially for women in hard-to-reach communities.
Global Leadership and Institutional Contributions
Prof. Waiswa serves in several global and national advisory roles, contributing to health policy, implementation, and systems strengthening. His roles include membership on WHO Guideline Development Groups, the WHO–UNICEF Informal Technical Advisory Group on norms for small and/or sick newborn care, the Lancet Commission on Evidence-Based Implementation in Global Health, and other global health platforms.
He also leads Makerere University’s Centre of Excellence for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and heads the INDEPTH Network Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Working Group.
To engage with Prof. Peter Waiswa ; visit: https://peterwaiswa.com/
By Joseph Odoi
