By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Lira University Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Assoc. Prof. Judith Akello Abal has lauded M-CARE Project, an international initiative, for improving primary healthcare for chronic conditions and mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda (Lango sub-region).
Prof. Akallo Abal noted that the international project, also being implemented in Uganda through Lira University, targets community impact, ultimately providing tangible improvement in the health and well-being of our communities. “This is our primary motivation and our most important objective,” she said while addressing the courtesy meeting between the M-CARE International Partners and the Lira University Management Team at the Intern Medical Doctors Mess, Lira University on 29th September 2026.
Prof. Abal said, the M-CARE project is not just another research initiative for Lira University; it is a flagship programme that sits at the very heart of “our strategic vision.”
The Project team at the meeting at the Intern Doctors Mess. Assoc. Prof. Akello Abal chairs the meeting
The M-CARE Project is a multi-country initiative focused on improving primary health care for adults living with multiple long-term chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions. Operating in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, M-CARE is addressing a growing health crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa, where fragile health systems struggle to manage the rising burden of NCDs.
The M-CARE project in Uganda has a total duration of five years, starting in July 2025 and running through 2030, with Oyam, Kole and Lira districts, and Lira City as the implementation areas.
As a young and dynamic university, Prof. Abal reveals that, Lira University’s mission is to be a centre of academic excellence, innovation, and community transformation. “The M-CARE project, directly aligns with our core values of relevance, impact, and service to humanity,” she explains.
Prof. Abal praised researchers from the M-CARE international partner institutions for their long journey made to Lira. “Your presence here today is a powerful testament to the strength and sincerity of our partnership,” she notes.
She noted that the project represents the kind of collaborative, problem-solving research that “we champion,” adding that it is the partnership that bridges continents, combines diverse expertise, and pools resources to tackle real-world health challenges.
“The synergy between our local knowledge and the global perspectives of our partners is what makes this initiative so potent and promising,” she said, adding that the international partnership puts Lira University on the global map, creates opportunities for our staff and students to engage with the international academic community, fostering a culture of global citizenship and collaboration.
The team walking to the meeting venue via the University Teaching Hospital
On capacity building, Prof. Abal said, we are training the next generation of Ugandan researchers, clinicians, and public health experts, the knowledge and skills being transferred through this project are invaluable assets that will serve this nation for decades to come.
The Principal Investigator, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bernard Omech commended the international partners for visiting the Uganda project Team. He said that M-CARE works to shift healthcare from fragmented, disease-specific treatment toward an integrated, person-centered approach.
“Our team is doing much, training health workers, engaging members of the community and their leaders to actively participate in the project implementation and collecting data for NCDs, among others,” he said.
Prof. Omech said that the data and findings generated will provide the crucial evidence needed to inform better health policies and practices, not just in Lira or Northern Uganda, but potentially on a national scale.
The Ag. University Secretary, Mr. Atim Tom pledged support to ensure the successful implementation of the project. “As the Accounting Officer, we shall work as a team to ensure there is value for money, effective, transparent and timely accountability to facilitate release of further funds,” Mr. Atim said.
Prof. Charles Agyemang, the Project Leader and overall Principal Investigator from Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands) praised Lira University team for the job well done so far.
“Lira University team is powerful and committed. We are happy to note this, the team spirit and involving key stakeholders in the project implementation are paramount and the way to go if the project must succeed,” Prof. Agyemang said.
The partners(researchers) posing for a photo moment at the M-CARE Office, Lira University
Among the partners present at the meeting were Dr. Erik Beune, Co-Investigator (Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), Dr. Wouter Munneke, Co-Investigator and Coordinator (Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands), Prof. Dr. Judith E. Bosmans, Co-Investigator (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Professor Marie Norredam, also Co-Investigator.
Others are Dr. Gershim Asiki, Co-Investigator(African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Kenya), Dr. Frederick Murunga Wekesah, Co-Investigator(African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Dr. Alfred Doku, Co-Investigator(University of Ghana Medical School / Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana), Dr. Leonard Baatiema, Co-Investigator(School of Public Health, University of Ghana), Solomon Nyame, Co-Investigator(PhD Student (Cardiovascular Epidemiology), University of Utrecht) and Pearl Aovare, Co-Investigator(University of Amsterdam, Medical Center, Netherlands).
Also present were Leonard Baafiema, M-CARE-Ghana, Gershim Asiku, Senior Research Scientist, Frederick Weke S, Research Scientist and Gordon Awoh, Family Physician.
The Ugandan team are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bernard Omech, Principal Investigator (Head of Graduate Training & Research Centre, Lira University, Uganda), Dr. Samson Udho, Co-Investigator (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira University, Uganda), Dr. Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho, Co-Investigator (Faculty of Public Health, Lira University, Uganda), Assoc. Prof. Akello Judith Abal (PhD), Co-Investigator (Dean Faculty of Management Sciences, Lira University, Uganda).
Other Lira University members were CPA. Jolly Joe Ojok, Principal Accountant, Dr. Michael Peter Owiny, Chief Quality Assurance Officer, Twesige Barnabas, Deputy Academic Registrar, Abila Ambrose Duca, Asst.Warden, Issa Obong, Library Assistant, Lamunu Winnie Christine, Project Administrative Assistant and Gutu Jastine, Project Finance and Administrative Assistant.