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  • October 29, 2025
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Master of Public Health Disaster Management (MDM) program was established to address the growing need for skilled professionals capable of effectively responding to and managing disasters in Africa and other low-income regions. With disasters ranging from natural hazards to human-induced crises, the program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills required to minimize risks, strengthen resilience, and enhance coordinated public health responses.

Mission
To build a critical mass of well-trained professionals in disaster management who can lead effective public health responses, reduce risks, and mitigate the impacts of disasters in Uganda, Africa, and beyond.

Goal
To strengthen national and regional capacity for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery by providing advanced training, fostering research, and promoting sustainable solutions in public health emergency management.

The programme is run on a multidisciplinary basis, using specialists from within and outside of the University. Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) has over 50 established staff and more than 50 Research Fellows and Research Associates, who participate in teaching of academic courses.  It also utilises other experts in the relevant fields from the other Schools in the College of Health Sciences, such as the School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and School of Health Sciences. Other collaborating universities will be invited in the implementation of the programme. Suitable training sites and supervisors including from UN agencies, NGOs and community-based organisations (CBOs) supervise and guide the students during their field attachments.

The MDM programme is 78 weeks (22 months) in duration and consists of four semesters and one recess term.  Each semester is 17 weeks, of which 15 weeks are used for teaching and two weeks for examinations.  The recess term is 10 weeks.

The programme is open to Ugandans and non-Ugandans who fulfil the admission requirements. The requirements described below are only the minimum academic conditions for admission and only make one eligible. A candidate is eligible for admission if he/she satisfies any of the following:

 

  1. A bachelor degree in health sciences, e.g. human medicine or nursing, from a recognised institution and at least two years’ relevant field experience.
  2. A degree in biological sciences from a recognised institution, e.g. food science and technology, human nutrition, environmental health, and at least two years’ relevant field experience.
  3. A degree in social sciences from a recognised institution, e.g. community psychology, SWASA, Law school, and at least two years’ relevant experience.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed prior to selection.

The MBIO programme is open to both Ugandan and international applicants with a background in a quantitative discipline or a health-related field that includes coursework in statistics or mathematics. Only graduates from universities recognised by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) will be considered for admission. All applicants must also meet Makerere University’s general admission requirements for graduate programmes. Applications should be submitted online according to the instructions provided below. Apply

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