On the 7^th of October, 2024, UMI hosted a Public Policy Dialogue under the theme “Research and Development of Complementary and Traditional Medicine in Uganda: Implications for Health Policy and Planning”. The event was graced by the Minister of State for Health, Hon. Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, Prof. Amos Mwaka Deogratius – Dean of the School of Medicine,Gulu University, Prof.George Openjuru Ladaah – Vice Chancellor, Gulu University, Dr. Alice Lamwaka – Clinical Pharmacist and Lecturer, Gulu University and various stakeholders including practitioners of traditional and conventional medicine.

Representing the Director General UMI , the Director of Finance and Administration ,Dr. Nakabago emphasized that while research and development of traditional medicine in Uganda faces barriers related to political, administrative, and scientific knowledge, these barriers can be addressed through reviewing and strengthening existing policy frameworks. He emphasised that this dialogue   focused on integrating traditional and conventional medicine systems to improve access, efficiency, and safety in health care.

Complementary medicine, as defined by WHO, includes health care practices not fully integrated into the conventional health system. While Prof. Mwaka stressed the importance of developing safe, respectful, and accessible approaches for patients to benefit from both systems, Uganda’s health system and the World Health Organisation (WHO) strategies currently limit the scope of traditional and complementary practices and prioritize conventional medicine. With a strong belief Prof. Amos Mwaka Deogratius, Dean of the School of Medicine at Gulu University, argues that traditional medicine and beliefs play a role in health maintenance and diagnosis.

Minister Anifa Kawooya called for the development of medical training curricula that meet global standards, noting that products and services must be measurable and efficient. She emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to craft well-researched, precise, and implementable health policies. She further encouraged enhancing the value of traditional medicine products to align with global market standards and thanked UMI for its continued support in training and improving health care quality across government and non-government institutions.

The dialogue underscored the complexity of integrating traditional medicine into conventional practice while highlighting the urgent need for policies that are actionable, evidence-based, and beneficial to all stakeholders.