Alumni meeting and Digital One Health workshop in Uganda

September 2023: Alumni Legacy Review meeting and Digital One Health workshop organised by the University of Edinburgh in Uganda.

Since 2019, the University of Edinburgh has hosted six Cohort 1 Professional fellows, three Cohort 2 Professional fellows, and two Policy fellows from Uganda, all of whom successfully completed their fellowships with support from academic mentors within our institution.

Fleming Fellowship Legacy workshop in Entebbe

In light of having received valuable feedback on the fellows' journeys, we organized the Fleming Fellowship Legacy review workshop in Entebbe, Uganda, in September.

Dr. Adrian Muwonge, Co-Director of the Fleming Fellowship Scheme at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Bryan Wee, a Fleming Fund mentor at the University, led the workshop. Loice Epetiru, Mott MacDonald Regional Fellowship Scheme Officer, also joined the workshop alongside the fellows.

alumni meeting in Uganda — Alumni fellows, University of Edinburgh team, and Mott MacDonald representative at the Legacy Review meeting in Entebbe, Uganda

The meeting was a valuable opportunity to strengthen bonds and explore ongoing collaboration among fellows and mentors. We delved into fellowship experiences, analysed challenges, and strategized for long-term sustainability. Discussions included support for upcoming fellows, sustained involvement, and proposals for collaborative projects, enhancing our networks and prospects for continued collaboration.
Dr. Michael Kimaanga
Senior Veterinary Inspector at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and Alumni Fleming Fund fellow from Uganda

Feedback and insight

The workshop comprised two key segments. On the first day, the emphasis was on gathering feedback and insights from alumni fellows about their fellowship experiences. They shared challenges, knowledge gained, and the overall impact of their work.

Examples provided illustrated the positive influence of the fellowship on their personal and professional development.

The contribution of Ugandan Fellows at their Beneficiary Institutions has been incredible. The Fellows have grown in their careers, and say they are now trusted by their superiors to represent their Beneficiary Institutions in technical meetings.

Fellows have also been recognized as subject matter experts as well as being consulted on drafting AMS and IPC documents and actively participating in AMRCC processes. This recognition is largely attributed to the competence the Fellows have exhibited on AMR issues during and after their Fellowship period. They also raised awareness on AMR issues by taking advantage of the World Antibiotic Awareness week and other opportunities within their Beneficiary Institutions.
Loice Epetiru
Mott MacDonald Regional Fellowship Scheme Officer

Future plans

On the second day, discussions centered on future plans, with fellows proposing the creation of an in-country group consisting of mentors from among the alumni.

This group could play a crucial role in connecting new fellows with mentors from the University of Edinburgh, ensuring continuity, local relevance, and a strong support system for upcoming Fleming Fund fellows.

The FFF legacy review for me was an invitation to reflect on the opportunities, challenges and the potential we have in the FFF Phase 2
Dr Adrian Muwonge
Co-director of the University of Edinburgh Fleming Fund fellowship schemes

Fleming Fund fellows play a crucial role in eliminating AMR. To sustain progress, they must be at the centre of national AMR control efforts.
Ibrahimm Mugerwa
National Coordinator for AMR Surveillance at the Uganda National Health Laboratory Services (UNHLS)and Alumni Fleming Fund fellow from Uganda

Digital One Health workshop

Alumni fellows had an opportunity to participate in the Digital One Health workshop, organised by University of Edinburgh, alongside representatives from key One Health institutions in Uganda, including the Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), and the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Engaging discussions also involved the participation of bioethics and legal experts from Makerere University.

The main goal of the workshop was to foster trust and collaboration among these varied institutions, placing specific emphasis on harmonizing, sharing, and governing AMR surveillance data. Addressing the complexities of data sharing, the workshop explored challenges and put forth effective solutions for mitigation.

Dr. Adrian Muwonge leading the Digital One Health workshop — Dr. Adrian Muwonge guiding participants in the Digital One Health workshop

Insights from Alumni Meeting and Digital One Health Workshop

Both meetings provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen collaboration among mentors, fellows, and stakeholders.

As previously mentioned, the fellowship significantly influenced the professional development of the fellows. Combining the newly acquired knowledge from the Digital One Health workshop with that from the fellowship, fellows are well-equipped to influence future activities and contribute to national policies addressing AMR across the country.

Through the legacy of the Fleming Fellowship, the workshop highlighted the role of collaboration across the One Health spectrum to ensure that efforts to tackle AMR are informed, strategic and unified.
Dr Bryan Wee
Core scientist at the Roslin Institute and Fleming Fund fellowship scheme mentor