Whereas, CPAR Uganda owns our land and buildings at Plot 30 Gulu Avenue, significant and costly renovations were necessitated by the actions of a previous tenant.

They breached our tenancy agreement; left the property without notifying and without handing it back to us. By the time we found out, we found our property extensively vandalised.

Efforts are on-going to follow-up the tenant in breach, including legal action, to enforce their compliance.

Our Associate, Dr. Robert Kidega is significantly invested – putting in finances and expertise to renovate and modify our property into a medical centre.

Dr. Kidega is a medical doctor who holds a Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery Degree from Gulu University; a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health from Gulu School of Clinical Officers; and has completed courses on social medicine, acute illness management, primary trauma management and good clinical practice.

Our partnership with Dr. Kidega has brought on board our team valuable expertise and knowledge that he has gained practicing medicine since 2007. And, moreover, in different capacities – clinician, medical officer, trainer of medical teams, and head of medical research units.

He has a wealth of knowledge gained from actively participating in doing research, including as principal investigator.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the buildings and to equip the centre with the necessary furniture, equipment and machines.

When completed, initially, it will provide general clinic and basic lab services; and specialized services on specific days of the week. When fully completed and fully operational, it is expected it will be a centre of excellence that provides a wide range of medical services, as well:

• Medical camps – on sight and outreaches in communities doing mass screening, treatment and vaccination.

• Health promotion campaigns – prioritizing stigmatized diseases, such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and sickle cells.

• Social Research and publication – contributing to the body of knowledge – empirical data, academic papers and policy briefs on determinants of health.