UGANDA PHARMACY SYMPOSIUM ENDS WITH STRONG CALL FOR DIGITAL HEALTH INNOVATION
By Econews – April 12, 2025 | Ishaka, Uganda
The 5th Uganda Pharmaceutical Symposium wrapped up on April 12, 2025, at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital and Research Centre (KIU-THR), sending a clear message: Uganda’s healthcare system must embrace innovation, research, and digital transformation to meet the demands of the future.
Held from April 11 to 12 under the theme “Universal Health Coverage: Prioritizing Supply Chain, Research, Innovation, and Digitization of 1Health,” the event attracted over 1,000 participants from across Uganda and beyond, including students, health professionals, policymakers, and development partners.
Kicking off the event, KIU University Secretary Madam Asiati Mbabazi called on attendees to remain grounded in their duty as health professionals. “We are here to save lives,” she said. Her words framed the tone of the symposium—rooted in responsibility and forward thinking.
Professor Eric Mabonga, KIU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed the university’s dedication to health transformation through research and partnerships. “We are committed to innovation through technology and will keep supporting impactful community-focused initiatives,” he said.
At the Innovation Exhibition Village, students and young professionals showcased solutions ranging from AI-powered diagnostics to locally developed herbal treatments. Many projects, born in university labs and student research clubs, captured the attention of delegates and highlighted the untapped potential within Uganda’s youthful scientific community.
Speakers throughout the event emphasized the urgent need for reform in health education and service delivery. Dr. Benjamin Mwesige from the Uganda Cancer Institute urged integration of AI into pharmaceutical systems. “We must rethink how research can directly influence outcomes,” he noted.
Dr. Anyase Ronald Amaza, Patron of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, encouraged young pharmacists to prioritize implementation over applause. “Stay silent and work hard,” he advised. “We need research that speaks policy and delivers results.”
Representing Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Dr. Martha Grace Ajulong delivered a strategic keynote emphasizing the role of functional supply chains. “If the medicines don’t reach the last mile, we’ve failed,” she said. Dr. Ajulong also underscored the importance of digital solutions to enhance access, affordability, and system sustainability, while pointing to partnerships such as that with USAID as a benchmark for success.\
Students played a central role throughout the symposium, engaging in debates, presentations, innovation contests, and IPSF-led leadership workshops. Their energy and creativity reflected a generation ready to lead Uganda’s digital health transformation.
During the closing ceremony, Professor Mabonga applauded the student-led efforts and reaffirmed KIU’s commitment to nurturing future health leaders. In a symbolic gesture, Dr. Ajulong planted two medicinal trees at KIU-TH to honor the country’s traditional knowledge and its relevance in modern healthcare.
In her closing remarks, she left the room with a powerful message: “The biggest problem pharmacists have is fear—fear to fail. Stop fearing. Innovation comes when you dare to try.”
As the symposium concluded, participants returned home inspired and aligned, knowing the future of Uganda’s healthcare lies in collaborative, research-driven, and digital-first approaches. The 5th Uganda Pharmaceutical Symposium wasn’t just a milestone—it was a signal of what’s possible when innovation meets purpose.
