Why Makerere’s $10,000-scientist drive aims to shield Africa from pandemics

What the report says

Makerere University has launched a five-year regional initiative, ACT-PREP, intended to strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to future outbreaks without relying so heavily on outside research. The project, announced on Monday, September 28, links universities, research institutes and health ministries across Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Senegal and partners in Europe, according to The Observer.

The effort is focused on upgrading laboratories and training more than 10,000 scientists, health workers, clinical trial associates and postgraduate researchers. That includes support for 15 PhD candidates and 10 postdoctoral fellows. Makerere Vice-Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe said the goal is to ensure that expertise, systems and facilities are already in place before the next epidemic emerges.

The article frames the initiative as a response to lessons from COVID-19, when African health officials often depended on vaccine, drug and trial guidance generated elsewhere. Makerere’s School of Public Health dean, Rhoda Wanyenze, said the pandemic exposed the need for faster, locally relevant evidence. The project also uses a One Health approach, examining links between human health, animals and environmental change.

The Observer also reported that the initiative highlights broader challenges for African health systems, including unstable funding and misinformation that can weaken public trust. A health ministry representative, Daniel Kyabayinze, said emergency research financing and community engagement will be critical if the project is to help countries respond more quickly to future outbreaks such as Ebola, Marburg and mpox.