Makerere University Biomedical Research Centre (MakBRC), College of Health Sciences (CHS), hosted Prof. Samuel Coulbourn Flores, Director of the Research School in Bioinformatics at Stockholm University, Sweden. Prof. Flores also serves as an Associate Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The visit was supported by Europe’s Civic University Alliance (CIVIS), a European Commission initiative linking an academic community of more than 470,000 students and 58,000 staff worldwide.
Through CIVIS, Prof. Flores, Dr. Ivan Mwebaza and Dr. Samuel Kirimunda secured a grant that supported the visit, including a short course led by Prof. Flores on Microcontroller Programming and Interfacing for Medical and Agricultural Technology, held from 15th to 17th June 2026.
Participants were introduced to innovation and technology development, microcontroller fundamentals, programming with MakeCode, healthcare technology applications, smart greenhouse systems and project development. By the end of the training, they had developed and showcased several prototypes, including smart dustbins, geolocatable cooler boxes for vaccines and research samples, automated radiation detectors and other innovations. At least three prototypes were considered suitable for investor pitching and future funding.
Demand for the training far exceeded available capacity. Although the kits and platforms could accommodate only 20 participants, the organisers received more than 120 applications. In response, Prof. Flores donated several training kits so that those who could not attend could complete an online course and later practise using the donated equipment.
The training aligned with MakBRCs objective of fostering grassroots innovation to develop local solutions for local health and medical challenges.
During the visit, Prof. Flores, together with Dr. Kirimunda and Dr. Mwebaza, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Studies at Makerere University and patron of the CIVIS programme in Uganda. Dr. Kikooma expressed appreciation for the growing collaboration between Makerere University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The team also discussed opportunities to develop joint PhD and master’s degree programmes between the two universities.
The team further visited Dr. Daudi Jjingo, Director of the African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics, and Dr. David Kateete, Dean of the School of Biomedical Sciences, both of whom pledged support for making the joint degree programme a reality.
At the close of the visit and training, Dr. Ivan Mwebaza, Head of Research, Innovations and Training at MakBRC, thanked Prof. Flores for the visit, the practical skills shared with young scientists, and the confidence inspired in them to develop solutions to technological challenges encountered in their work.
