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Zziwa Swaibu

Zziwa Swaibu

Lecturer

Units

Contact Details

I am a Public Health Specialist, researcher, and lecturer with over 12 years of experience in teaching, research, curriculum development, student supervision, and community engagement. My academic interests include injury prevention, rehabilitation, disability, implementation science, health systems strengthening, epidemiology, community health, and health policy. I am passionate about translating research evidence into practical interventions that improve health outcomes in low-resource settings.

• PhD Candidate in Public Health – Makerere University School of Public Health (2022–Present)
• Master of Public Health (MPH) – Makerere University School of Public Health
• Bachelor of Environmental Health Science (BEHS) – Makerere University

• Certificate in Chronic Consequences of Trauma, Injuries and Disability – Johns Hopkins University
• Certificate in Conducting Epidemiological Research – Johns Hopkins University
• Certificate in Applying Summary Measures of Population Health – Johns Hopkins University

1. Prevalence and factors associated with utilization of rehabilitation services among people with physical disabilities in Kampala, Uganda (2019) “A descriptive cross-sectional study” Zziwa Swaibu1*, Babikako Harriet2, Doris Kwesiga3, Olive Kobusingye1, Jacob A. Bentley4, Frederick Oporia1, Rebecca Nuwematsiko1, Abdulgafoor Bachani4, Lynn M. Atuyambe1, Nino Paichadze;4 BMC Public Health Journal.

2. An analysis of trends and distribution of the burden of road traffic injuries in Uganda, 2011 to 2015: a retrospective study; Frederick Oporia, Angela Nakanwagi Kisakye, Rebecca Nuwematsiko, Abdulgafoor M Bachani, John Bosco Isunju, Abdullah Ali Halage, Zziwa Swaibu, Lynn Muhimbuura Atuyambe, Olive Kobusingye ; The Pan African Medical Journal

3. Assessing Knowledge and Practices of the Community towards Corona Virus Disease 2019 in Mbale Municipality, Uganda (2021): A cross sectional Study; Naziru Rashid, Aisha Nazziwa, Rehema Kantono, Hassan Kasujja, Zziwa Swaibu; East African Health Research Journal.

4. Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception on Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Non-Health Workers Attending Selected Health Facilities in Mbale City, Uganda (2021); Naziru Rashid, Zziwa Swaibu; World Journal of Public Health; 6(4), 139-147.

5. More than just a beating: the burden of injuries due to gender-based violence in Uganda- a 5-year analysis (2017); Nuwematsiko, Rebecca, Oporia, Frederick, Tuhebwe, Doreen, Nabirye, Juliet, Zziwa, Swaibu, Ediau, Micheal, Atuyambe, Lynn, Kobusingye, Olive; Pan African Medical Journal.

6. Kutosi J, Walusansa A, Babatunde AA, Muluya KM, Kudamba A, Zziwa S, Namasopo I, Kuloba I, Nabutsale B, Busiku F, Namusoke M. Prevalence, predictors and risk perceptions of Hypertension among adults in Bududa Town Council, Eastern Uganda. African Health Sciences. 2025 Dec 5;25(4):175-90.

7. Cherukut J, Zziwa S, Rashid N, Babatunde AA, Kafeero HM, Walusansa A, Nankinga Z, Nakitende S, Muluya KM. Building a culture of developing annual health work plan based on data: Critical health system related factors influencing data utilization in Bukedi region, Uganda. medRxiv. 2025 Apr 1:2025-03.

8. Naziru R, Ssebyala MN, Tamale F, Mukasa Z, Turyagumanawe J, Daama A, Babatunde AA, Zziwa S, Muluya KM. Reported Adverse Events (Side Effects) Following COVID-19 Vaccination Among University Students and Staff: A Case of Islamic University in Uganda. The East African Health Research Journal. 2025 Sep 30;9(1):41.

9. Logose BS, Kafeero HM, Rashid N, Walusansa A, Babatunde AA, Muluya KM, Auca A, Nankinga Z, Akugizibwe P, Zziwa S. Retention in care of HIV-exposed infants and associated infant and maternal factors in Teso Sub Region, Eastern Uganda. AIDS Research and Therapy. 2026 Jan 30.

PhD Research: Mobility Recovery After Lower Limb Bone Fractures in Uganda

A mixed-methods implementation research project examining post-discharge rehabilitation services and developing a human-centred, home-based rehabilitation intervention to improve mobility recovery among fracture patients in Greater Kampala.

Previous research includes rehabilitation service utilization, road traffic injuries, COVID-19, Hepatitis B, gender-based violence, hypertension, HIV care, and health systems research.

Extensive experience supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in proposal development, dissertation research, data analysis, scientific writing, manuscript preparation, research ethics, and publication mentoring.

Research Interests

  • Injury prevention and trauma care
    • Rehabilitation and disability
    • Community-based rehabilitation
    • Mobility recovery following fractures
    • Road traffic injuries
    • Health systems strengthening
    • Epidemiology and implementation science
    • Health policy and health services research
    • Communicable and Non-communicable diseases
    • Community health

Teaching Experience

Teaching areas include Epidemiology, Research Methods, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Health Promotion, Community Health, Public Health Practice, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Systems, and Rehabilitation.

Professional Leadership

Curriculum development, programme accreditation support, research capacity strengthening, academic quality assurance, community outreach, departmental administration, and professional mentorship.

Collaborations

Makerere University School of Public Health; Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit; Mountains of the Moon University; Busitema University; East Africa University (Somalia).

Professional Memberships

  • Allied Health Professionals Council (Uganda)
    • Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit
    • Makerere University TRIAD Programme
    • Mountains of the Moon Academic Staff Association

Research Vision

To become a leading African public health researcher advancing injury prevention, rehabilitation, implementation science, and health systems research through collaborative, policy-relevant, and community-driven research.