Last year marked the ten years’ anniversary of Mbarara University of Science and Technology- Pharmaceutical Sciences Programme (PHS), with the first cohort of students having walked through PHS doors in August 2012.
Mr. Kagimu Braize Ben, the chairperson of the organizing committee for the 10-years celebrations said that the 10-years milestone was a moment to take time to reflect on the incredible achievements and successes of our students, staff, alumni and partners. He added that the different events have been taking place in line with the 10year’s jubilation and the climax was the dinner that brought together all stakeholders.
Mr. Delafrique Deogratious the president of PHS pointed out that staff and students have at the heart all events at the PHS department. On behalf of his fellow students, Mr. Delafrique said that they were grateful to the mentors and co-mentors for their dedication to bringing out the best in them. “We can never tell our academic journey without you in it. We are so indebted to you all”.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences programme was started under a project called Millennium Science Initiative in 2012 with Prof. Amon Agaba as the Principal Investigator of the project. He worked very closely with Dr. Crispin Duncan Sesaazi, who was the research and publicity secretary in the same project. Dr. Duncan has been the Head of Department since the programme’s inception.
Prof. Amon Agaba a senior lecturer and mentor in the Faculty of Medicine, emphasized the importance of continued dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and the relentless pursuit of excellence of the programme. His words resonated deeply with both current students and alumni, reaffirming their commitment to making a lasting impact in the pharmaceutical field.
Our 10 -years have given us the deacon of hope in the medical field. The support rendered by the university administration and the FoM leave us no choice but to continue to shape the future of pharmaceutical sciences in Uganda and beyond. Our successes have surpassed all expectations. Giving up now is none of our options but to succeed. Said Prof. Agaba.
Dr. Ssesazi expressed his pride in the most crucial milestone achieved – obtaining approval from the Allied Health Professionals Council. This accreditation is a testament to the programme’s commitment to maintaining high standards and ensuring that its graduates are well-prepared and recognized professionals in the pharmaceutical field.
He added that the Pharmaceutical Sciences programme, ever since its inception, has been driven by a distinct vision – to train job creators rather than job seekers. With this ambitious goal in mind, it has successfully equipped students with the knowledge and skills to be innovators and entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the years, many students have taken the path of further education and specialization, pursuing master’s degrees in areas such as Pharmacognocy and Natural Medicine Science, Pharmaceutics, and Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance.
Mr. Joseph Oloro, lecturer of Pharmacology and the patron for Pharmaceutical Sciences Students’ Association, acknowledged that the 10years walk has not been an easy one, the hurdles and bends have been so challenging. The biggest being limited awareness of the programme to the public and navigating through the intricate process of seeking approvals from regulatory bodies were initial hurdles that required perseverance and determination.
Despite the challenges, this has not stopped the programme from registering numerous successful stories that have emerged. Joseph took pride in the graduates of Pharmaceutical Sciences that have contributed towards making meaningful contributions to the community and the healthcare sector.
It goes without mention that these have developed innovative drug formulations, conducted groundbreaking research in natural medicine, among other achievement at both national and international level.
He added that the 10-years celebration also provided a platform for stakeholders and alumni to share their experiences in the field. These vowed to work closely with the department for the programmme’s visibility, and career guidance in the community, grants writing, promote research and Innovation
According Prof. Patrick Ogwang a mentor and senior lecturer in the department, Pharmaceutical scientists MUST alumni have contributed a lot to the field of medicine. He said pharmaceutical scientists are brilliant people working to make the world a healthier place. They carry out research on new treatments or medications, testing medicine rigorously to make sure that it works like it’s supposed to, and finally making the medicine so that it can get in the hands of the right patients. These go ahead and, advise on the potential side effects, and maybe even do last minute mixing and dosage. Pharmaceutical scientists work behind the scenes to actually make the medicine and they rarely interact with patients. That is why most people may know who they are in the line of medical persons.