A strategic international partnership is transforming urogynaecology training at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), offering renewed hope for women suffering from pelvic health conditions across Uganda.
The collaboration, led by Associate Professor Musa Kayondo and Professor Verena Alice Geissbuhler from Winterthur, Switzerland, is strengthening specialized medical training and reinforcing MUST’s commitment to community-focused healthcare.
Professor Verena, a global expert in urogynaecology, initiated the fellowship program at MUST to address the critical shortage of specialists in the field.
Her recent visit to the university was welcomed by Vice Chancellor Professor Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, who expressed deep appreciation for the initiative.
“Knowing that we have more doctors training in this field restores hope to many women,” said Prof. Byakika-Kibwika. She noted that for many years, the late Dr. Milo was the only doctor performing these surgeries in Uganda, mainly at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The fellowship program aims to train doctors from government hospitals across Uganda, a move the Vice Chancellor described as key to achieving equitable healthcare. She further urged Prof. Verena to consider increasing the number of fellows to four, calling it “an act of love for Uganda.”
Prof. Verena highlighted the global nature of urogynaecological issues, pointing out that pelvic floor problems are also rising in Europe, especially among the elderly. “Any kind of support would bring hope to women,” she said.
Associate Professor Kayondo shared the emotional story of a woman who lived with a fistula since before Uganda’s independence and was finally treated through the program. She returned days later to thank the team in person.
“I believe victims of urogynaecology challenges are spreading the information about our campus,” he said. “The numbers have doubled in all the mobile clinics and at the MRRH campus we hold.”
Recognizing the barriers that prevent many women from seeking care—such as stigma, shyness, and long wait times—Prof. Kayondo and his team take services directly to Health Centre IVs. “We take all we need to work on these women,” he said. “All we need is the local staff to help us coordinate, and space in the theatre.”
Professor Byakika-Kibwika praised Dr. Kayondo for his outreach efforts, noting that his initiative helps around 500 women each year. She acknowledged the difficulty in selecting fellows for such a specialized field but expressed confidence in the department’s ability to choose qualified candidates.
This training initiative aligns with MUST’s mission to provide relevant education and research that applies science and technology to community development. By building capacity in urogynaecology, the university is addressing an urgent health need while advancing its goal of equitable, community-based healthcare.
