Kalangala District has received its first-ever modern clinical research facility after Makerere University commissioned the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Kalangala Clinical Research Centre, a development expected to ease access to advanced care in one of Uganda’s highest HIV-burdened communities.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, launched the centre on 20th November 2025, describing it as a major milestone for the island district. “This is more than a building; it’s a lifeline,” he said.
“IDI is not only Uganda’s leading health partner, managing over 20% of HIV cases, but research is first on its agenda. If people are not healthy, they can’t work, it’s useless to invest in anything else.”
The centre, supported by the Gates Foundation, forms part of a multinational HIV prevention study spanning 31 sites in Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa. Its opening comes at a crucial moment for Kalangala, which ranks third nationwide in HIV prevalence at 13.1%, with fishing communities most affected.
District leaders welcomed the facility as a long-awaited answer to years of hardship. “Accessing healthcare has always meant a journey across waves, long, costly, and sometimes dangerous,” said District Chairperson Jajab Ssemakula. “You have not only invested in Kalangala; you have brought Makerere University to Kalangala.”
IDI Executive Director, Dr. Andrew Kambugu, said the centre will eliminate barriers that have historically denied residents timely medical services. “This centre means access without barriers,” he said. “Kalangala residents no longer need to travel long distances for clinical trials or advanced care.”
IDI Board Chairperson, Prof. Samuel Luboga, assured the community of the institution’s long-term commitment. “We are not a fleeting partner,” he said. “This sentinel research centre aligns with our vision of freeing Africa from the burden of infectious diseases. The assurance I give Kalangala is, we are here to stay.”
District authorities praised IDI for its consistent innovation and impact. Deputy Resident District Commissioner Henry Ssebunya noted that IDI has “treated and cared for people living with HIV, deployed medical drones to deliver life-saving medicines, and now built a research centre. This is a new chapter for Kalangala.”
The facility marks a new era for the island, whose journey from a sleeping sickness camp in 1906 to a state-of-the-art research hub in 2025 reflects a long history of resilience and transformation.
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