JCRC@25 The birth, growth and evolution of the centre A successful journey that started 25 years ago Testimonies from the beneficiaries What the partners say JCRC @25 Contents eDiToR: Conan Businge Messages (Conan Events Co Ltd) Message from Chairman Board 4 Message from Executive Director 6 DeSign & LAYoUT Diana Kambedha Carol Kabega Features JCRC’s 25-year journey 10 Abou Kisige A story of success and great sacrifice 11 Courtesy Photos cooRDinAToR Fred Byaruhanga Profiles JcRc Board members of the years 8 coMMUnicATionS TeAM 12 Christine Matama Senior management All rights reserved. ©2016 Pictorial Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly Around JCRC 25 prohibited. JCRC, Plot 101, Lubowa E s t a t e s , O ff E n t e b b e R o a d Partners P.O. Box 10005, Kampala, Uganda UK Medical research Council Tel: 256-414-201147/48 Clinical Trail Unit 31 Fax: 256-414-342632 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.jcrc.co.ug Interviews With Dr James Makumbi 32 With Dr Justine Jita 33 Research JCRC publications 36 JCRC @25 2 JCRC @25 Contents eDiToR: Conan Businge Messages (Conan Events Co Ltd) Message from Chairman Board 4 Message from Executive Director 6 DeSign & LAYoUT Diana Kambedha Carol Kabega Features JCRC’s 25-year journey 10 Abou Kisige A story of success and great sacrifice 11 Courtesy Photos cooRDinAToR Fred Byaruhanga Profiles JcRc Board members of the years 8 coMMUnicATionS TeAM 12 Christine Matama Senior management All rights reserved. ©2016 Pictorial Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly Around JCRC 25 prohibited. JCRC, Plot 101, Lubowa E s t a t e s , O ff E n t e b b e R o a d Partners P.O. Box 10005, Kampala, Uganda UK Medical research Council Tel: 256-414-201147/48 Clinical Trail Unit 31 Fax: 256-414-342632 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.jcrc.co.ug Interviews With Dr James Makumbi 32 With Dr Justine Jita 33 Research Patron JCRC publications 36 H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Patron , First Board Chairman JCRC @25 JCRC @25 2 3 Foreword he Ministry of Health scale up in the country between 2003 joins all Ugandans in and 2010 where underprivileged congratulating JCRC as the communities were reached for the centre marks 25 years of the first time including areas of Bwindi, fi g h t a g a i n s t t h e H I V / A I D S s c o u r g e . Kalangala, Moyo, Karamoja among T Established in 1991 by H.E.Yoweri others. Kaguta Museveni to provide a The fight against HIV/AIDS still scientific solution to the HIV/AIDS goes on. The Ministry of Health will scourge which was at its peak at the continue to provide the necessary time, JCRC’s 25 years journey of support for JCRC to continue her work scientific research in HIV/AIDS in and we look forward to more service Uganda has significantly changed the and research in HIV/AIDS and other management of HIV/AIDS nationally diseases. and internationally. JCRC is also credited for being the first centre in Uganda to introduce Yours Sincerely, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and H o n . D r . J a n e R u t h A c e n g contributing significantly to ART Minister of Health JCRC @25 4 Foreword Message from Prof. Justin Opio, Chairman Board of Trustees ABoUt ProF. JUstin oPio He is the Chairperson of the Board of the JCRC He is also the Vice-chairperson of the st. Augusti ne internati onal University Council. He holds a PhD in reproducti ve Biology from Makerere University. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Veterinary Anatomy and a Bachelor of veterinary Medicine from the University of nairobi Prof. opio has worked with both the University of nairobi and Makerere University. At Makerere University, he rose through the ranks from lecturer, senior lecturer, dean, associate professor, professor and deputy Vice-Chancellor at Makerere University He then served in the positi on of acti ng vice chancellor between 1993 and 2004 A unique centre He will also be remembered, for having helped in the restorati on COMES OF AGE of peace in the Teso region t has been 25 years of success and time we started, so many other people which can be used to fi ght and research challenges for the Joint Clinical were illegally importing fake drugs about so many other diseases. Research centre. We had to start and taking advantage of the people People should be grateful for the the fi ght against HIV/AIDS from who were suff ering with the terrible setting up of the JCRC. he Ministry of Health scale up in the country between 2003 almost nowhere. pandemic which had hit the country. I’m proud of having been part of this joins all Ugandans in and 2010 where underprivileged iI have taken 18 years with the Joint We, however, persisted and succeeded. big and important dream for all these congratulating JCRC as the communities were reached for the Clinical Research Centre, serving as the It is at this point that I give special years. centre marks 25 years of the first time including areas of Bwindi, Chairman of the board. Th is Centre was thanks to the board members and the I also believe that the Government fi g h t a g a i n s t t h e H I V / A I D S s c o u r g e . Kalangala, Moyo, Karamoja among unique from the start, owing to the kind technical team for their commitment to needs to recognise so many staff T Established in 1991 by H.E.Yoweri others. of work it had been established for. make this Centre succeed. members and board members who Kaguta Museveni to provide a The fight against HIV/AIDS still It had its own full autonomy of its If there is a place I have seen started this fi ght against the HIV/ scientific solution to the HIV/AIDS goes on. The Ministry of Health will operations from the Government right Ugandans work so hard and with so AIDS scourge from the JCRC. scourge which was at its peak at the continue to provide the necessary from the start. Part of our greatest much commitment, it is at this Centre. Over years, we have supported a time, JCRC’s 25 years journey of support for JCRC to continue her work challenge was to start a centre without Th e team was committed. number of our staff to go back for scientific research in HIV/AIDS in and we look forward to more service using funds from the Government or As of today, there are so many further studies. Th is was part of our Uganda has significantly changed the and research in HIV/AIDS and other the tax payers. organisations which are dealing with agenda to ensure that the staff also management of HIV/AIDS nationally diseases. I saw the establishment of the the HIV/AIDS research, treatment and develop their careers as they support our and internationally. new home for JCRC, right from care. Th is is commendable, since it has country to overcome the HIV scourge. JCRC is also credited for being the the breaking of the ground. It was a also helped save so many lives over the We have over years also set up first centre in Uganda to introduce Yours Sincerely, complete bush on this hill, before we set years. We are proud that we were the structures for JCRC to smoothen its Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and H o n . D r . J a n e R u t h A c e n g up this Centre. pioneers in this HIV/AIDS fi ght. operations. Th is was part of the strategy contributing significantly to ART Minister of Health I recall that this was not an easy We now provide advanced services to strengthen the physical and human assignment to start JCRC. At the and do have high-tech laboratories resource of the Company. JCRC @25 JCRC @25 4 5 Message from Prof. Peter Mugyenyi, Executive Director t has been a diffi cult journey Lubowa. In 2008, we were able to Th e laboratory also has facilities for to make it this far. It has been move to our new premises. From a genetic sequencing of the DNA assay to 25 years of relentless work, residential house owned by Buganda determine the HIV resistance. commitment and teamwork. Kingdom, JCRC is now housed in a Over years, this centre has also As a team we took on a fi ght of the multi-purpose built campus, with the created regional centres to scale up the iworld’s most dangerous disease. It was state-of-the art laboratories. We now distribution of ARVs. Th e regional killing millions of people all over the have the P3 laboratories, which are one centres are in Gulu district to cover world. of the highest safety pressure controlled the North, two other centres in Mbale When I took over the job in 1992 laboratories for the safe handling of and Kakira for the eastern part of the as Joint Clinical Research Centre’s multi-resistant TB and other diseases. country, another centre in Fort Portal Executive Director, I had absolutely no idea that this was close to what one many described as “Mission Impossible.” But the work had to be done.