Makerere University’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Health Lab held its first-ever AI in African Health Conference on November 28, 2024, at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. Themed “Building a Strong Ecosystem for AI in African Health Systems,” the conference aimed to explore the transformative potential of AI in addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges.

The event brought together experts from academia, healthcare, industry, and government to discuss innovative AI-driven solutions in diagnostics, treatment optimization, and disease prediction. The conference emphasized the need to tackle diverse healthcare needs, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and develop sustainable strategies for AI policy, regulation, and ethical implementation.

Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, officially opened the conference. Representing the government, she underscored its commitment to supporting AI advancements and acknowledged its transformative role in revolutionizing healthcare delivery.

In her remarks, Dr. Zawedde celebrated Makerere University’s leadership in driving AI innovations and commended the AI Health Lab for its pioneering initiatives, including the Ocular project led by Dr. Rose Nakasi. Referring to Dr. Nakasi as a “product of collaboration and mentorship,” she noted that AI-driven healthcare advancements are not only changing patient outcomes but are also a testament to the potential of academia-industry partnerships.

Dr. Zawedde highlighted the importance of creating a robust ecosystem to scale AI innovations. She shared insights from a recent government retreat where AI was identified as a critical component of Uganda’s digital transformation roadmap. She explained that the roadmap prioritizes infrastructure development, affordable and accessible technology, and skilling to ensure widespread adoption of AI solutions.

Reflecting on Uganda’s progress, Dr. Zawedde noted that the country has excelled in policy formulation, achieving 77% implementation of key digital transformation policies. However, she stressed the need to move beyond policy creation to effective enforcement and sustainability. “Government is no longer lagging behind. We are embracing solutions that are relevant and contextual, ensuring they address local challenges effectively,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary also called for a multi-stakeholder approach to foster AI innovation. She urged academia, private sector players, civil society, and development partners to collaborate in scaling AI-driven healthcare solutions. She pointed out the critical need for strategies that align innovation with community needs, emphasizing co-design and inclusivity in AI applications.

Dr. Zawedde concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting AI initiatives through skilling, cybersecurity, and innovation. She lauded the efforts of researchers like Dr. Nakasi, who are spearheading groundbreaking projects such as using AI to optimize malaria diagnostics. By training lab technicians to use AI-enabled tools, such projects bridge the gap between innovation and practical healthcare delivery.

The conference also tackled ethical concerns, including data privacy, bias, and accountability in AI applications, while emphasizing the importance of equitable access to these technologies. Stakeholders agreed that building a strong AI ecosystem requires addressing talent gaps, developing regulatory frameworks, and creating partnerships that integrate AI into healthcare systems sustainably.

The inaugural event set the stage for continued dialogue and collaboration, marking a significant milestone in the journey to leverage AI for transformative healthcare in Africa.

Ministry of Health  Official Urges Strategic Deployment of AI in Healthcare

Assistant Commissioner Paul Mbaka of the Ministry of Health called for strategic and practical integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in Uganda’s healthcare sector, emphasizing its potential to address systemic challenges. Mr.  Mbaka highlighted the transformative role AI could play in improving patient outcomes, resource optimization, and medical training.

“AI has moved from the fringes of academic discourse into our everyday lives, offering tools that were once unimaginable. For instance, imagine using AI like ChatGPT to mine healthcare data and provide targeted insights. This could revolutionize how we handle reports and project statuses,” Mbaka said.

He pointed to specific areas where AI is already making strides globally, such as diagnosing diseases like breast cancer and tuberculosis, providing remote care, and optimizing resources. “In our context, with limited resources, AI can help determine the best intervention mix for maximum impact, whether it’s distributing mosquito nets or conducting environmental management for malaria control,” he explained.

Mbaka also outlined the challenges Uganda faces in fully adopting AI, including infrastructure limitations, unreliable electricity, and data privacy laws. “Deploying AI in hospitals like Naguru requires not just reliable devices but also secure infrastructure. Physical security and data protection are key concerns,” he noted, recalling instances where equipment was stolen due to inadequate safeguards.

He criticized the reliance on imported solutions that may not suit local needs, citing examples from the COVID-19 response. “We used a proximity-based AI tool for contact tracing, only to discover it misidentified neighbors separated by walls as contacts. This highlights the importance of innovating for our own context rather than retrofitting foreign solutions,” Mbaka said.

Looking ahead, he stressed the need for capacity building and localized innovation. “We must harness our talent to design tools that address Uganda’s unique challenges. AI should not only create jobs abroad but also empower our graduates to contribute meaningfully to national development,” he concluded.

Mbaka’s remarks underscored the critical role of academia, industry, and government in fostering an AI ecosystem tailored to Uganda’s healthcare needs.

Makerere University Champions AI for Transforming Africa’s Health Systems

The Vice Chancellor represented by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, delivered remarks emphasizing the transformative potential of AI in healthcare and the university’s commitment to fostering sustainable and ethical innovations.

“This conference demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling Africa’s health challenges,” Prof. Buyinza stated, applauding the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) and the AI Health Lab, led by Dr. Rose Nakasi, for spearheading groundbreaking initiatives. He noted that AI-powered diagnostic tools, such as those developed by the lab, are set to revolutionize disease detection for conditions like malaria and tuberculosis, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses.

Prof. Buyinza highlighted Makerere University’s strategic vision of becoming a “University 5.0,” one that transcends traditional educational models by integrating cutting-edge technologies to address societal needs. “Our goal is to be a university of the future, shaping a digitally competent workforce and transforming Africa through innovation,” he said. He emphasized that Makerere’s strategic focus aligns with global priorities, particularly in health, climate resilience, agriculture, and education.

The Vice Chancellor’s remarks underlined the role of the AI Health Lab in positioning Makerere as a global leader in AI-driven ethical research. “This milestone reflects our dedication to harnessing emerging technologies for societal transformation,” Prof. Buyinza said. He further lauded Dr. Nakasi for her resilience and innovative leadership, which has elevated Makerere’s reputation as a hub for AI research and development.

Acknowledging key partners such as Google and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Prof. Buyinza expressed gratitude for their generous support, which has enabled the university to advance its research and innovation agenda. He also recognized the Ugandan government’s contributions to research funding, emphasizing the importance of political support in building a knowledge economy.

However, Prof. Buyinza cautioned that significant challenges persist, including issues of data quality, infrastructure, organizational capacity, and ethical considerations. “AI must be seen as a tool to augment human intelligence, not replace it. Ethical and responsible AI practice is paramount as we integrate these technologies into our healthcare systems,” he said.

Beyond healthcare, the Vice Chancellor’s remarks underscored the broader applications of AI, including improving agricultural productivity through predictive tools, urban planning, and education. “AI has the potential to catalyze societal transformation, but we must ensure its benefits are inclusive and equitable, especially for the most vulnerable communities,” Prof. Buyinza stressed.

In line with the conference theme, “Building Strong Ecosystems for AI in African Health Systems,” Prof. Buyinza urged stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of AI and move beyond the design stage. He encouraged interdisciplinary partnerships, robust infrastructure development, and capacity building to ensure impactful outcomes.

“We must remember that the ultimate goal of any innovation is to serve humanity. Makerere University is committed to supporting impactful ecosystems that deliver sustainable and ethical solutions,” he said.

Prof. Buyinza concluded by reiterating Makerere’s dedication to fostering excellence in research, education, and innovation. “Together, with the support of government and our partners, we will overcome challenges, amplify our successes, and transform Africa’s healthcare systems for a better future,” he affirmed.

Prof. Tonny Oyana Urges Scholars to Embrace Deep Learning Technologies in Combating Health Challenges

The Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences Prof. Tonny Oyana, urged scholars to delve deeper into combining artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, particularly in the fight against emerging health challenges. He emphasized the need for leveraging resources, talent, and research infrastructure to tackle health issues like tuberculosis (TB) and pneumonia.

Prof. Oyana highlighted the exceptional talent within Uganda’s academic institutions, specifically pointing to the College of Computing’s students as the top 10% in the country. However, he also noted the gap in identifying hidden talent and the need for better mechanisms to nurture these individuals.

He emphasized that while Makerere University’s research infrastructure, including vast amounts of data generated daily, holds significant potential for advancing health solutions, there are still challenges surrounding data quality and its effective utilization.

“Sometimes when we receive government data, there are errors, like those from UBOS. They do their best, but even 10% of collected data can be inaccurate. Yet, over time, data quality improves.” “But when it comes to diagnosis, the real challenge is accuracy. I appreciate the work Dr. Rose Nakasi is doing, improving the accuracy of diagnosis. If we can get the diagnosis right, treatment and care can be better handled. The quality of diagnosis can change everything.” The professor asserted.

 He pointed to the role of AI in improving diagnostics, noting how Dr. Rose Nakasi’s work in AI-enhanced diagnosis is already transforming healthcare by speeding up accurate diagnoses and treatment.

Prof. Oyana also delved into the role of data in healthcare, citing examples of real-time data usage from cities like New York to identify outbreaks and other public health threats. He suggested that Uganda could better harness its data for similar purposes, particularly in identifying emerging diseases.

” Over the last decade, TB has become more widespread in Uganda. It was rare when I was growing up, but now it’s a common sight in hospitals. And pneumonia is emerging as another major health concern, especially among children and adults.” He remarked

He also emphasized the importance of upscaling knowledge and skills post-graduation to better prepare students for the evolving job market.

Despite the tremendous promise of AI in healthcare, Prof. Oyana cautioned about the ethical implications, especially with regard to cybersecurity. He underscored the importance of ensuring the security and integrity of patient data, which remains a vulnerable point in AI-driven systems.

“We also need to recognize that cybersecurity is critical when dealing with healthcare data. When transmitting sensitive health data, we need to ensure it remains secure. Our data could be stolen, and cybercriminals could misuse it. We must implement stringent security measures.”

“And then there’s ethics. AI must be questioned. It’s not just because AI is automatic that it’s correct. We have to be cautious and critical of AI technologies”, he stressed

In closing, Prof. Oyana reiterated the potential of AI to revolutionize healthcare, not only in diagnosis but also in treatment and care, urging scholars and researchers to expand their focus beyond computer vision to address other crucial areas in health technology and innovation.

Dr. Rose Nakasi Highlights the Role of AI in Revolutionizing Healthcare

Dr. Rose Nakasi, the Principal Investigator for the  Mak AI Health Lab and Ocular Project, underscored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. She described the conference as “a dream come true,” reflecting on the long journey to bring together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field of AI and healthcare.

In her remarks, Dr. Nakasi pointed out the key role of AI in addressing Uganda’s critical healthcare challenges. “AI has the potential to completely transform healthcare in Uganda,” she said. She emphasized the integration of AI into health systems as a solution to the country’s longstanding issues with disease diagnosis and healthcare delivery.

She highlighted the significant progress already made through the Ocular project, which uses AI-enhanced tools to diagnose malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and cervical cancer. “Through our innovative AI solutions, we have already started to witness improved diagnosis, faster patient management, and more accurate treatments,” Dr. Nakasi noted. The Ocular project, funded by a $1.5 million grant from Google, has enabled early detection and better treatment outcomes for these prevalent diseases in Uganda.

Dr. Nakasi also discussed the importance of data in advancing AI in healthcare. “Data is the cornerstone of AI. Without good quality data, AI cannot reach its full potential,” she stated. She called for the systematic collection and management of health data, stressing that the current fragmented state of health data in Uganda is a major barrier to AI adoption. She encouraged healthcare professionals to embrace digital health tools, which she believes will significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health services.

Moreover, Dr. Nakasi shared her perspective on the challenges that AI in healthcare faces, particularly in a low-income country like Uganda. “There are challenges in terms of access to technology, training, and infrastructure,” she acknowledged. However, she believes that these barriers can be overcome with sustained investment in both human resources and technological infrastructure. “We must equip our healthcare professionals with the right skills to harness AI effectively,” she urged.

The AI health revolution, according to Dr. Nakasi, also brings with it the need for ethical considerations. She emphasized that the use of AI in healthcare should be guided by strict ethical standards to protect patient privacy and ensure fairness in diagnosis and treatment. “We must ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly,” she stressed.

Dr. Nakasi concluded by reaffirming her commitment to furthering AI research in health and continuing to build collaborations that will support the development and scaling of AI solutions in Uganda and across Africa. “We must continue to innovate, collaborate, and invest in AI to improve healthcare delivery and save lives”.

Solomon Nsumba Highlights Key Objectives of the Mak-AI Health Lab and Ocular Project

Kampala, Makerere University – Solomon Nsumba, the Technical Lead for the Mak-AI Health Lab and the Ocular project, shared the lab’s vision and advancements during a recent presentation. His talk emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing healthcare diagnostics and improving surveillance across Uganda.

In his opening remarks, Nsumba introduced the primary objectives of the Ocular project, which focuses on developing an AI-based standardized approach for diagnosing malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and cervical cancer. He highlighted the project’s goal of building a computer framework to aid in disease surveillance, which integrates with health centers across the country.

“We aim to deploy a system that can provide accurate diagnostics through smartphones, making healthcare more accessible and efficient,” Nsumba explained. He underscored that smartphones, available for as low as 100,000 Nigerian shillings, present an affordable solution to widespread diagnostics. The integration of smartphones with microscopes, facilitated by a 3D-printed adapter designed by the team, allows for easy data collection and AI-driven analysis at the point of care.

Nsumba detailed the process of collecting data from health centers using Android applications, which capture images of samples analyzed by technicians. The images are then annotated by experts to mark areas of interest, such as parasites in malaria or cancerous cells in cervical cancer. “The AI models are trained to recognize these patterns, enabling faster and more accurate diagnostics,” Nsumba stated.

The Ocular project significantly improves the efficiency of healthcare workers by reducing diagnostic time. “What used to take 30 minutes for a technician to analyze a slide can now be done in under two minutes with AI,” Nsumba added. This shift not only speeds up diagnosis but also helps reduce patient waiting times, improving healthcare delivery.

The project also aims to enhance the teaching of microscopy. By developing a mobile application that supports image capture from microscopes, students can view diagnostic images in real time, supporting the teaching process and enabling them to learn from experts. “Our goal is to integrate this technology into teaching facilities, making it easier for students to learn microscopy and its applications,” Nsumba said.

Furthermore, Nsumba discussed the complementary framework being developed to improve disease surveillance in Uganda. Once diagnostics are completed, the results are automatically transmitted to the Ministry of Health, providing real-time data on disease prevalence across the country. “This will allow for near-real-time surveillance, creating a map of disease hotspots and improving the response to outbreaks,” he explained.

The Ocular project is also focused on automating report generation. The system is designed to generate diagnostic reports from blood smears analyzed by pathologists, ensuring that healthcare workers spend less time on paperwork and more on patient care. “We are making sure the system learns from experts and can generate accurate reports based on trained datasets,” Nsumba shared.

Nsumba also revealed that the project is making its data available for use by other researchers. “We have datasets for malaria, cervical cancer, and biopsies that are available on our website for anyone interested in building models,” he said.

In conclusion, Nsumba emphasized the transformative potential of the Ocular project in improving healthcare outcomes across Uganda. “Our work is aimed at reducing the burden on healthcare professionals and ensuring that patients receive timely, accurate results,” he said. The Ocular project and the Mak-AI Health Lab’s initiatives are setting the stage for a new era in AI-assisted healthcare, making diagnostics faster, more affordable, and accessible.

By Jane Anyango

Communication Officer, CoCIS