MUST-MGH Global Health Staff
Stephen Asiimwe, MD, MPH, DrPH
Program Director
Dr Stephen Asiimwe completed degrees in Medicine & Surgery from Makerere University Kampala Uganda (MUK, 1999), a Masters Degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University Ohio, (CWRU, 2006) and a doctorate in public health Epidemiology and Health Policy at the University of Georgia, USA (DrPH 2013). Dr Stephen is Principal and Co Principal Investigator at the Kabwohe Clinical Research Center (KCRC) and Integrated Community Based Initiatives (ICOBI) respectively in Uganda, both of which are centers of excellence in clinical and community based medical research in Uganda that conduct, among others multi-center HIV prevention clinical trials. Stephen is also an attending Clinician, and Co-Investigator, involved with teaching and collaborative research projects with colleagues at the University of Washington (Seattle), University of Georgia, Harvard Center for Global Health, Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Uganda. Stephen is also an adjunct faculty and honorary lecturer of epidemiology and biostatistics at the MUST department of community health. His work is mainly in the field of HIV/STI prevention. He has a long track record of collaborative and productive HIV/STI research.
Annet Kembabazi
Senior Program Manager
Annet manages Departmental Partnerships between MGH and MUST/MRRH and safety and security of GHC staff and collaboration visitors.
She holds a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology and a post graduate diploma in Project Planning and Management from Mbarara University-Uganda. She also holds a bachelors degree of Education from Makerere University Kampala- Uganda; where she specialized in economics and religious studies.
Ms. Kembabazi has 10 years experience of project management and clinical research coordination in resource limited setting (Mbarara-Uganda). She also coordinated the Uganda Aids Rural Treatment outcomes (UARTO) Study; the longest longitudinal study that the program has had and managed over 25 staff under this project. She have helped start the Measuring Early Treatment Adherence (META) project which currently has over 95% participant rendition and have trained several staff members and international visitors on how to carry out research in Mbarara.
Annet has vast experiencing working with both national and international collaborators for the GHC.
Mary Namukisa RN-BNS
Research and Infrastructure Manager
Mary oversees GHC’s infrastructure work in building research and programmatic capacity at MUST/MRRH and providing avenues for continued academic scholarly work. She worked as a Nursing Officer for HIV prevention studies including the PReP Vacc trial looking at safety and efficacy of two HIV vaccines and comparing Descovy and Truvada PREP tablets, and adolescent cohort studies at Medical Research council/Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine(MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) from 2018 to 2021. Mary completed a Bachelor of Nursing Science from Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 2016 and also did a postgraduate certificate in study coordination at the University of Siena in 2019. Before joining MRC, she worked with Uganda Virus Research Institute/ International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (UVRI/IAVI) as a nurse counselor. Her motivation is to do research that can influence policy for better health.
Julius Turyasingura
IT Manager
Mr. Turyasingura holds a bachelor of science in computer science degree from Makerere University, Kampala. A diploma in Secondary Education from National Teachers College, Kabale. He also holds a professional certificate in Cisco computer networking Associate (CCNA).
Julius has over 10 years experience in Information Technology management, support, Network design and setup, computer system installations and maintenance.
He worked at Computer Point Ltd,Kampala-Uganda from 2005-2006 as an IT Technical support Engineer before joining MUST-MGH Global Health Collaborative.
Rhina Mushagara
Relations and Communications Manager
Rhina holds a Master of Science degree in Information Systems (MSc.IS), a post-graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management (PPM), and a Bachelors’ degree in Information Technology (IT) from Mbarara University of Science and Technology. She worked as a Administrative Assistant and Data Manager for a clinical trial research study, Cryptococcal Optimal ART Timing (COAT Trial) with Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Uganda in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, USA for 3 years. She then joined the MUST-MGH Collaborative as a Project Coordinator with SQUAD (Surgical Services Quality Assurance Database) project and the MUST-ENT department in partnership with Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI), USA. Rhina has 6 years of experience as a Project Coordinator in research and academic programs in areas of Administration and Data Management working on different projects.
Pauline Namusimbi
MGH Guest House Manager
Ms. Namusimbi has been working with Mass General Global Health for 7 years as the MGH Guesthouse Manager. Before, she worked with the previous GHC Collaborative Site Director Nneka Emenyonu. Ms. Namusimbi manages the comings and goings of the visitors to the Guesthouse and prepares a home-cooked breakfast for the guests every morning. She and her family stay at the Annex right next to the Guesthouse so are always nearby. If you have any questions about your upcoming stay, please feel free to reach out to her at namusimbip@yahoo.com or +256(0) 782.351.919.