Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, was a seasoned public servant whose dedication to end HIV/AIDS in Uganda spanned decades. He was called to be with the Lord on Friday 7th June 2024.
At the age of 61, the immediate former Assistant Commissioner and Programme Manager for the AIDS Control Programme (ACP) at Uganda's Ministry of Health from 2012 to 2023 died after an unsuccessful heart valve replacement surgery in India.
Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) family is deeply saddened by the untimely demise of a distinguished senior medical doctor, public health physician, and epidemiologist.
We have lost a friend, colleague, great partner, and an advocate for evidence in delivery of healthcare in a bid to save lives. His tireless efforts contributed significantly to the impressive reduction in HIV infection rates in Uganda, strengthening the country’s AIDS response to become one of the most robust in the region.
As the former program manager of the AIDS Control Program at the Uganda Ministry of Health, Dr. Musinguzi was a staunch advocate for evidence-based programming and decision-making. We remember him as a health integration champion who promoted Evidence-Based Policy and advocated for Comprehensive Healthcare. He also facilitated and supported collaborations in Research and Policymaking throughout his career.
We honor his efforts to minimize HIV incidence and death in Uganda. His strategic focus on translating knowledge into policies and actions has helped Uganda manage the HIV epidemic.
For example, he suggested that the HIV-care model be employed to enhance the care of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, in sub-Saharan Africa. He argued for the need for integrated care to establish a more sustainable, accessible, and efficient healthcare system that can treat multiple chronic conditions in a single facility. This helped to reduce patients' logistical and financial burdens by treating several chronic illnesses at the same facility.
Dr. Musinguzi’s advocacy was instrumental in garnering support from the Global Fund, leading to several impactful research studies between 2013 and 2017, conducted in partnership with Makerere University School of Public Health. His commitment to using research findings for policy recommendations and programming improvements was unwavering.
His support towards efforts in primary HIV prevention, condom programming, retention of mothers in Option B+, and family planning among HIV-positive women demonstrated his holistic approach to combatting HIV/AIDS. He was a champion of ensuring access and availability of anti-retroviral drugs and strongly supported HIV self-testing to reduce stigma.
Dr. Musinguzi's legacy will live on through the policies and programs he helped to shape. His vision for a more informed and proactive approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment continues to inspire us.
His involvement in the INTE-AFRICA project and other collaborations with researchers, policymakers, and patients shows his multi-faceted approach to healthcare. Dr. Musinguzi's expertise has enabled revolutionary healthcare approaches for Africa and beyond.
Born in 1963, Dr. Musinguzi was affectionately known as the “Son of a Reverend” among his peers, a nod to his upbringing in Hoima and Masindi, where his father, the Late Rev. Seremosi, worked as a headmaster and later as a clergyman in the Church of Uganda. He attended Duhaga Boys Primary School in the 1970s, followed by secondary education at King's College Budo in the 1980s. Here, he formed enduring friendships with future leaders in medicine, including Dr. George Mutema (Pathologist in the USA), Dr. Frank Lule (WHO Country Representative, Ghana), and Dr. Nathan Bakyaita (WHO Country Representative, Zambia).
He pursued a medical degree at Makerere University Medical School alongside many of his King's College peers, where his love for cricket and football flourished. After graduating in the 1980s, he completed his internship at Lubaga Hospital, which retained him as a Medical Officer due to his exceptional performance. Dr. Musinguzi furthered his education by earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Leeds in 1988.
The School of Public Health extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues during this time of grief. His contributions to public health in Uganda remain commendable and strongly engraved in our hearts.
Fare thee well, Joshua.
