Prof Pauline Byakika-Kibwika is an Internal Medicine Specialist and Epidemiologist with sub specialization in infectious diseases. She is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree, a Master of Science (MSc) in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine, from Makerere University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Pharmacology obtained from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Pauline is Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Her research focused on optimizing treatment for HIV and malaria and strengthening biomedical research capacity through the establishment of a clinical pharmacology research unit and laboratory at the Infectious Diseases Institute in Kampala, Uganda, where she conducted research to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles and drug interactions of antiretroviral and antimalarial drugs in an African population. In 2006, she was selected as one of 5 Sewankambo Scholars, a prestigious scholarship program named after one of Uganda’s most distinguished researchers, aimed to develop independent Principal Investigators in Uganda. Since then she has written successful research grants, conducted and managed research projects including clinical trials, published several articles in peer reviewed journals, mentored and supervised students’ research at post graduate and PhD levels at Makerere University.
Pauline has worked on various in country assignments with the Ministry of health, as part of the National Malaria Control Program and is a member of the Ministerial Scientific Advisory Committee on COVID-19. She served as the Vice President of the Uganda Medical Association, a professional body, that champions medical doctors’ interests, welfare and advocates for quality health service delivery in the county. She served as Medical Advisor to the Oil and Gas Industry in Uganda, specifically; Tullow Oil Uganda Pty and TOTAL Exploration and Production. At the East African Regional level; she is a Commissioner on the Board of the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), which is the principal advisory institution to the East African Community on Health Research and Development.