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Team

Meet the Muwrp Team

Dr. Hannah Kibuuka

Executive Director
Dr. Hannah is a dedicated research scientist and clinician with over 15 years of experience in HIV and Ebola research. She leads major clinical trials, drives scientific innovation, and provides strategic oversight at MUWRP.
  • Lead Strategic Scientific

    Dr. Hannah provides strategic direction, leadership, and administrative oversight to the Makerere University Walter Reed Project, guiding research teams and major scientific initiatives.

  • Drive Vaccine Development & Disease Surveillance

    She actively conducts clinical trials for vaccines against HIV, Ebola/Marburg, COVID-19, and Schistosomiasis. Her work also includes surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infections, as well as monitoring antimicrobial resistance to strengthen global and national health systems.

  • Advance HIV Cure Innovation Through HOPE Collaboratory

    For the past 3 years, she has contributed to HIV cure research using the Block-Lock-Excise (Stop) approach—an innovative strategy that focuses on long-term silencing of latent viral expression and achieving virus control in the absence of therapy.

Dr. Betty Nanzigu Mwesigwa

Deputy Executive Director
Dr. Betty Nanzigu Mwesigwa is the Deputy Executive Director of the Makerere University Walter Reed Program, leading key infectious disease research efforts, including HIV prevention and vaccine development. She is an NIH-funded researcher focused on improving cervical cancer outcomes among women living with HIV.
  • Strategic Leadership in Biomedical Research

    As Deputy Executive Director, she oversees major infectious disease research initiatives and contributes to strategic decision-making as an ex-officio Board member.

  • Regional Impact Through Vaccine & HIV Research

    With over 12 years of experience, she leads impactful work in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and in developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola, Marburg, and Bilharzia.

  • NIH-Funded Innovation in Women’s Health

    Her NIH-supported research focuses on improving cervical cancer prevention and treatment for women living with HIV in Uganda.

Dr. Grace Mirembe

Research manager
Dr. Grace Mirembe is a pediatrician and clinical researcher with over 15 years of experience conducting therapeutic trials and epidemiological studies. She currently serves as Research Manager at MUWRP and is the Principal Investigator for the RV591 RapidVax study.
  • Extensive Clinical & Research Expertise

    With a background in Pediatrics and Child Health, Dr. Mirembe has provided care for children, including those living with HIV/AIDS, and transitioned into clinical research where she has led randomized clinical trials, epidemiological studies, implementation science projects, and therapeutic trials for both adults and children. Her work also includes research on structural heart disease in individuals with chronic HIV.

  • Leadership in Research Implementation

    As Research Manager at MUWRP, she oversees the execution of multiple research projects and serves as an associate investigator on several protocols, contributing to high-quality study design and delivery.

  • Principal Investigator & Scientific Contribution

    Dr. Mirembe leads the RV591 RapidVax study as Principal Investigator. She has co-authored peer-reviewed scientific publications and presented her research at national and international scientific conferences.

Dr. Prossy Naluyima

Director MUWRP Laboratory
Dr. Prossy Naluyima is an immunologist and senior laboratory scientist with over 20 years of research experience at MUWRP, specializing in evaluating patient health and assessing the safety and immune responses of biological products.
  • Academic & Scientific Foundation

    Dr. Naluyima holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology (Makerere University), an MSc in Biomedical Science (University of Ulster, UK), and a PhD in Medical Science with a specialization in Immunology (Karolinska Institute, Sweden).

  • 20+ Years of Research Experience at MUWRP

    She has extensive expertise in medical research, contributing to the understanding, prevention, and management of both infectious and non-infectious diseases throughout her two decades at the Makerere University Walter Reed Program.

  • Leadership in Laboratory Operations & Biological Product Evaluation

    Dr. Naluyima oversees laboratories that assess patient health and evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of biological products used for prevention and therapy—supporting vaccine development and clinical research efforts.