FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kampala, Uganda - June 26, 2015

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES THE McKINNELL KNOWLEDGE CENTRE

On Friday 26th June 2015, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda officially launched and opened the multi-million dollar McKinnell Knowledge Centre at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), which is an integral part of the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University.

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda on Friday 26th June 2015 officially opened and launched the McKinnell Knowledge Centre at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), which is an integral part of the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University.

The McKinnell Knowledge Centre is a strategic addition to the infrastructure of Makerere University with a key role as a knowledge hub and source for both clinical and management information in the health sector; the hub will use the latest innovative information technology to strengthen the health system.

"The construction of the building is a worthwhile venture that will enable IDI to focus on healthcare development and the expansion of its programme portfolio in support of Government policies, strategies and priorities", said Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

The McKinnell Knowledge Centre was constructed with very generous personal contributions from Hank McKinnell Jr. (Chair of the Board of Accordia Global Health Foundation-one of IDI's prime partner organisations in the USA); Nicolas Hellmann and Sue Desmond-Hellmann; Robert Burke and Katherine States Burke; Gary and Fang Bridge; Donald and Jennifer Holzworth; Hiro Ogawa; Joseph Feczko and Leighton Gleicher; Walter and Mary Schlech; Allan and Myrna Ronald; Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding; Warner and Peggy Greene; Wilfred Griekspoor; Gary and Lori Cohen; Andrew and Carol Spahn; Robert Mallett; Richard Mrlik and Suzanne Sande Mrlik; Fred and Linda Port; and Uzondu Ihebereme. The University of Minnesota also contributed as did IDI itself by allocating some of its own funds.

The McKinnell Knowledge Centre will serve as a base for the IDI's Outreach and Training programmes (including some projects), the IDI Department of Strategic Planning and Development, and the Executive Director's Office.

Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu appreciated the funders who contributed to meeting the costs of designing and constructing the magnificent building, and also recognised the numerous notable milestones of the Infectious Diseases Institute in the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University, "I have seen how IDI has sought, since its inception about ten years ago, to make its contribution to the realisation of the Makerere strategy through striving to achieve its mission of strengthening health systems in Africa, with a strong emphasis on infectious diseases, through research and capacity development.

Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu also bid farewell to the outgoing IDI Executive Director, Dr. Alex Coutinho who served IDI with outstanding performance from 2008-2014. He welcomed Richard Brough PhD as the new Executive Director of IDI. Dr. Brough brings almost ten years of experience as IDI's Head of Strategic Planning and Development and his professional background is operational research (PhD from University of Warwick, UK). Following a period in management consultancy in London, since 1992, he has worked full-time in the planning and management of health services, as well as institutional development, in the South Pacific, Philippines, India, and Uganda for a range of development agencies; and in both Government and NGO sectors.