President Yoweri Museveni has described the death of Dr. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye as a ‘big disappointment to the country’.

Ministry of Health and State House confirmed the passing of Dr. Mbonye Sunday morning. He is a former Director General Health Services in the Ministry of Health, who is also husband to outgoing Statehouse Comptroller Lucy Nakyobe.

The ministry tweeted: “The management of @MinofHealthUG has learnt w/deep sorrow of the demise of Prof. Anthony K Mbonye, former Ag. Director General Health Services. Prof. Mbonye’s immense contribution to the health sector will never be forgotten. May his legacy live on. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

State House also tweeted: “We regret to announce the passing of Prof. Anthony Kabanza Mbonye, husband to Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, the out going State house comptroller.”

President Museveni took to Twitter to tweet: “I want to express condolences to our incoming Head of Civil Service, Lucy Nakyobe on account of the death of her husband, Dr. Mbonye. His untimely death is a big disappointment for the country and all who know his work in the medical service.”

Museveni regretted: “He still had a lot to contribute. I salute Lucy Nakyobe because she did everything possible to support him during the time of his sickness. She was always briefing me. May his soul rest in external peace.”

Dr. Mbonye is a Professor has been at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, MUK & UCU and former Director General Health Services.

Dr. Prof. Mbonye’s rich professional career

Personal Statement
I am a Professor of Public Health at School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

I have a broad background in medicine and public health with expertise in malaria, maternal health, infectious diseases control; policy development and programming.

Previously I was Acting Director General Health Services and a Director of Health Services supervising all community and clinical programs in the Ministry of Health.

Over time, I provided technical leadership and concluded a package of strategic interventions to improve health service delivery in Uganda.

As Director of Health Services I was a member of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) providing oversight for the implementation of Global Fund Grants in Uganda.

Previously as a Commissioner of Health Services and later as Director of Health Services, I coordinated multiple development partners in the control of epidemics and disease outbreaks involving VHFs, typhoid, cholera, malaria, Avian flu, and Rift Valley Fever.

HONOURS

  1. July 2017; awarded the distinguished Merge Horn Award by the USAID Department of Reproductive Health for ground breaking research on introducing injectable contraceptives at a community level in Uganda.
  2. March 2015; awarded the distinguished Golden Independence Jubilee Medal for leading promotion of maternal health and control of Ebola in Uganda.
  3. May 2009; awarded the Uganda Medical Association’s Order of Merit in honour of a distinguished carrier to promote maternal health in Uganda.
  4. December 2011; ranked the best health worker in Uganda for leadership in fighting Ebola Epidemic and Yellow Fever.
  5. October 2007; ranked No. 23 among the most important Ugandans in a survey carried out by the Monitor, the most popular newspaper for demonstrating leadership in promoting maternal health and carrying out research to improve public health in Uganda.

Research Projects

  1. 2017-2019 Understanding health system linkages: Formative research to develop strategies to support quality improvement in treatment in the private sector. Health Systems Research Initiative DfID/MRC/ESRC/Welcome Trust (Co-PI; project ongoing)
  2. 2015-2017 Integrated community case management (iCCM) in drug shops in peri-urban Uganda: Health Systems Research Initiative DfID/MRC/ESRC/Wellcome Trust (Co-PI)
  3. October 2013 Cost-effectiveness of strengthening referral of sick children from the private health sector in Uganda. NIH/National Academy of Sciences. (PI)
  4. 2010-2012. Project to genotype P. falciparum resistant strains to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine among pregnant women in Uganda. Malaria Capacity Development Consortium (MCDC) funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (PI).
  5. October 2008. Grant to study new ways of improving access to PMTC in Uganda. I was one of the 104 world scientists selected to receive the award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Grand Challenges. (PI).
  6. 2008-2013. Strategies to improve malaria diagnosis and use of ACTs in the home management of malaria in Uganda: randomised controlled trial among registered drug shops. ACT Consortium, funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Co-PI)
  7. 2002-2005. Improving access to IPTp in Uganda. Gates Malaria Partnership funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (PI).
     
    Publications
  8. Mitran CJ, Mbonye AK, Hawkes M, Yanow SK. Using Reference Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction to Assess the Clinical Performance of the Paracheck-Pf® Rapid Diagnostic Test in a Field Setting in Uganda. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Jun 4. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0112
  9. Mbonye AK, Wamala JF, Nanyunja M, Opio A, Makumbi I, Aceng JR. Ebola viral hemorrhagic disease outbreak in West Africa- lessons from Uganda. Afr Health Sci. 2014 Sep; 14(3):495-501.
  10. Idro R, Opar B, Wamala J, Abbo C, Onzivua S, Mwaka DA, Kakooza-Mwesige A, Mbonye A, Aceng JR. Is nodding syndrome an Onchocerca volvulus-induced neuroinflammatory disorder? Uganda’s story of research in understanding the disease. Int J Infect Dis. 2016 Apr; 45:112-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.03.002. Epub 2016 Mar 14. Review.
  11. Nanteza B, Galukande M, Aceng J, Musinguzi J, Opio A, Mbonye AK, Mukooyo E, Behumize P, Makumbi F. The burden of tetanus in Uganda. Springerplus. 2016 Jun 10; 5(1):705. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-2309-z. eCollection 2016.
  12. Knust B, Schafer IJ, Wamala J, Nyakarahuka L, Okot C, Shoemaker T, Dodd K, Gibbons A, Balinandi S, Tumusiime A, Campbell S, Newman E, Lasry E, DeClerck H, Boum Y, Makumbi I, Bosa HK, Mbonye A, Aceng JR, Nichol ST, Ströher U, Rollin PE. Multidistrict Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease-Uganda, 2012.J Infect Dis. 2015 Jul 23. pii: jiv351
  13. Idro R, Musubire KA, Byamah Mutamba B, Namusoke H, Muron J, Abbo C, Oriyabuzu R, Ssekyewa J, Okot C, Mwaka D, Ssebadduka P, Makumbi I, Opar B, Aceng JR, Mbonye AK. Proposed guidelines for the management of nodding syndrome. Afr Health Sci. 2013 Jun;13(2):219-32
  14. Dowell SF, Sejvar JJ, Riek L, Vandemaele KA, Lamunu M, Kuesel AC, Schmutzhard E, Matuja W, Bunga S, Foltz J, Nutman TB, Winkler AS, Mbonye AK. Nodding syndrome. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Sep; 19(9):1374-3. doi: 10.3201/eid1909.130401.
  15. Wamala JF, Malimbo M, Okot CL, Atai-Omoruto AD, Tenywa E, Miller JR, Balinandi S, Shoemaker T, Oyoo C, Omony EO, Kagirita A, Musenero MM, Makumbi I, Nanyunja M, Lutwama JJ, Downing R, Mbonye AK.Epidemiological and laboratory characterization of a yellow fever outbreak in northern Uganda, October 2010-January 2011. Int J Infect Dis. 2012 Jul;16(7):e536-42
  16. Mbonye AK, Magnussen P. Translating health research evidence into policy and practice in Uganda. Malar J. 2013 Aug 5; 12:274. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-274.
  17. Idro R, Musubire KA, Byamah Mutamba B, Namusoke H, Muron J, Abbo C, Oriyabuzu R, Ssekyewa J, Okot C, Mwaka D, Ssebadduka P, Makumbi I, Opar B, Aceng JR, Mbonye AK. Proposed guidelines for the management of nodding syndrome. Afr Health Sci. 2013 Jun;13(2):219-32
  18. Colenbrander S, Birungi C, Mbonye AK. Consensus and contention in the priority setting process: examining the health sector in Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2014 May 19.
  19. Hansen KS, Clarke SE, Lal S, Magnussen P, Mbonye AK. Cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing malaria diagnostic testing in drug shops: A cluster-randomised trial in Uganda. PLoS One. 2017 Dec 15; 12(12):e0189758. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189758. eCollection 2017.
  20. Allen EP, Muhwezi WW, Henriksson DK, Mbonye AK. Health facility management and access: a qualitative analysis of challenges to seeking healthcare for children under five in Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2017 Sep 1; 32(7):934-942. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czw180.
  21. Weissman E, Sentumbwe-Mugisa O, Mbonye AK, Lissner C, Berer M, Sundari Ravindran TK. Reproductive health matters: Safe motherhood initiatives: Critical issues. Reproductive health matters: Safe motherhood initiatives: Critical issues. 1999.
  22. Weissman, Eva, Anthony K. Mbonye, Emmanuel Kayaga, Sara Manyindo Kihuguru, Craig Lissner, and World Health Organization. “Uganda safe motherhood programme costing study.” (1999).
  23. Mbonye AK. Risk factors associated with maternal deaths in health units in Uganda. Afr J Reprod Health. 2001 Dec; 5(3):47-53.
  24. Mbonye A K. (2000). The Magnitude of Abortion Cases in Uganda. African Journal of Reproductive Health, vol. 4, (2) October 2000.
  25. Mbonye AK, Asimwe JB, Kabarangira J, Nanda G, Orinda V. Emergency obstetric care as the priority intervention to reduce maternal mortality in Uganda. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007 Mar; 96(3):220-5
  26. Orinda V, Kakande H, Kabarangira J, Nanda G, Mbonye AK. A sector-wide approach to emergency obstetric care in Uganda. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005 Dec; 91(3):285-91.
  27. Mbonye AK, Mutabazi MG, Asimwe JB, Sentumbwe O, Kabarangira J, Nanda G, Orinda V. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007.
  28. Mbonye AK, Buregyeya E, Rutebemberwa E, Clarke SE, Lal S, Hansen KS, Magnussen P, LaRussa P. Referral of children seeking care at private health facilities in Uganda. Malar J. 2017 Feb 14; 16(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12936-017-1723-1.
  29. Rutebemberwa E, Buregyeya E, Lal S, Clarke SE, Hansen KS, Magnussen P, LaRussa P, Mbonye AK. Assessing the potential of rural and urban private facilities in implementing child health interventions in Mukono district, central Uganda-a cross sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016 Jul 15; 16:268. doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1529-9.
  30. Buregyeya E, Rutebemberwa E, LaRussa P, Lal S, Clarke SE, Hansen KS, Magnussen P, Mbonye AK. Comparison of the capacity between public and private health facilities to manage under-five children with febrile illnesses in Uganda. Malar J. 2017 May 2; 16(1):183. doi: 10.1186/s12936-017-1842-8.
  31. Mbonye AK, KS Hansen F Wamono P Magnussen (2009). Increasing access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services through the private sector in Uganda. Sex Transm Infect. 2009 Dec; 85(7):534-9.
  32. Mbonye AK, KS Hansen F Wamono P Magnussen. Integration of malaria and HIV/AIDS prevention through the private sector in Uganda. Int Health. 2010 (2): 52–58.
  33. Mbonye AK, KS Hansen F Wamono P Magnussen (2009). Barriers to Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV services in Uganda. J Biosoc Sci. 2010 Mar;42 (2):271-83.
  34. Mbonye AK, Magnussen P, Lal S, Hansen KS, Cundill B, Chandler C, Clarke SE.A Cluster Randomised Trial Introducing Rapid Diagnostic Tests into Registered Drug Shops in Uganda: Impact on Appropriate Treatment of Malaria. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 22; 10(7) :e0129545. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129545. eCollection 2015.
  35. Chandler CI, Hall-Clifford R, Asaph T, Pascal M, Clarke S, Mbonye AK. Introducing malaria rapid diagnostic tests at registered drug shops in Uganda: Limitations of diagnostic testing in the reality of diagnosis. Soc Sci Med. 2011 Mar; 72(6):937-44.
  36. Mbonye AK, Magnussen P, Chandler CI, Hansen KS, Lal S, Cundill B, Lynch CA, Clarke SE. Introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria into drug shops in Uganda: design and implementation of a cluster randomized trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 29; 15(1):303.
  37. Hansen KS, Pedrazzoli D, Mbonye A, Clarke S, Cundill B, Magnussen P, Yeung S. Willingness-to-pay for a rapid malaria diagnostic test and artemisinin-based combination therapy from private drug shops in Mukono District, Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2013 Mar;28(2):185-96. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czs048. Epub 2012 May 15. PubMed PMID: 22589226; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3584993.
  38. Mbonye AK, Magnussen P, Chandler CI, Hansen KS, Lal S, Cundill B, Lynch CA, Clarke SE. Introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria into drug shops in Uganda: design and implementation of a cluster randomized trial. Trials. 2014 Jul 29;15(1):303.
  39. Mbonye AK, Birungi J, Yanow SK, Shokoples S, Malamba S, Alifrangis M, Magnussen P.The prevalence of P. falciparum resistance markers to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine among pregnant women receiving intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in Uganda. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Jun 29. pii: AAC.00507-15.
  40. Mbonye AK, Birungi J, Yanow S, Magnussen P. Prescription patterns and drug use among pregnant women with febrile Illnesses in Uganda: a survey in out-patient clinics. BMC Infect Dis. 2013 May 23;13(1):237
  41. Mbonye AK, Bygbjerg IC, Magnussen P. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: a new delivery system and its effect on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes in Uganda. Bull World Health Organ. 2008 Feb; 86(2):93-100.
  42. Mbonye AK, Bygbjerg IC, Magnussen P. Prevention and treatment practices and implications for malaria control in Mukono District Uganda. J Biosoc Sci. 2008 Mar; 40(2):283-96.
  43. Mbonye AK, Bygbjerg I, Magnussen P. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: a community-based delivery system and its effect on parasitaemia, anemia and low birth weight in Uganda. Int J Infect Dis. 2008 Jan; 12(1):22-9.
  44. Mbonye AK, Bygbjerg IC, Magnussen P. A community-based delivery system of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy and its effect on use of essential maternity care at health units in Uganda. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2007 Nov;101(11):1088-95.
  45. Mbonye AK, Bygbjerg I, Magnussen P. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy: evaluation of a new delivery approach and the policy implications for malaria control in Uganda. Health Policy. 2007 May; 81(2-3):228-41.
  46. Mbonye AK, Neema S, Magnussen P. Treatment-seeking practices for malaria in pregnancy among rural women in Mukono district, Uganda. J Biosoc Sci. 2006 Mar; 38(2):221-37.
  47. Mbonye AK, Neema S, Magnussen P. Preventing malaria in pregnancy: a study of perceptions and policy implications in Mukono district, Uganda. Health Policy Plan. 2006 Jan; 21(1):17-26.
  48. Nsabagasani X, Ogwal-Okeng J, Mbonye A, Ssengooba F, Nantanda R, Muyinda H, Holme Hansen E. The “child size medicines” concept: policy provisions in Uganda. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2015 Jan 31;8(1):2. eCollection 2015.
  49. Mbonye AK, Wamala JF, Nanyunja M, Opio A, Makumbi I, Aceng JR. Ebola viral hemorrhagic disease outbreak in West Africa- lessons from Uganda. Afr Health Sci. 2014 Sep;14(3):495-501.

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