Angelina Kakooza Mwesige

Title(s): Associate Professor

Current Position/Designation: Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University 

Institutional Affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Active Email Address: angelina_kakooza@yahoo.co.uk

Social Media Handle:  Twitter – @angiekaks

Dr. Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige is an Associate Professor and Paediatric Neurologist at the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Uganda. Her research focuses on neurology, infectious diseases, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy. She earned her doctorate in Medicine from Makerere University and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, investigating cerebral palsy in Ugandan children. A dedicated researcher and clinician, she has led multiple studies on epilepsy prevalence, cerebral palsy interventions, and neurological complications of infectious diseases. She has played a significant role in strengthening epilepsy research and care in Africa, serving as the Chair of the Commission on African Affairs of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and founding the Epilepsy Society of Uganda. A mentor to many young researchers, she has authored over 80 publications and remains actively engaged in international collaborations to improve paediatric neurological care in low-resource settings.

Relevant Professional Skills/Experiences

  • Expertise in paediatric neurology, with a focus on epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and autism
  • Leadership in international collaborations on neurological disorders in low-income settings
  • Extensive experience in epidemiological research and clinical trials in child health
  • Development of policy recommendations for neurological and neurodevelopmental care in Africa
  • Strong mentorship in medical education, supervising postgraduate research in paediatric neurology
  • Editorial board member and peer reviewer for international medical journals

Relevant Career Highlights

  • Chair, Commission on African Affairs, International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) (2017–2021)
  • Founder and past President, Epilepsy Society of Uganda (EPISOU)
  • Co-Principal Investigator, Multisite Epidemiology of Epilepsy Study in Sub-Saharan Africa (Wellcome Trust)
  • Lead researcher on Cerebral palsy epidemiology and community interventions in Uganda (Makerere-Karolinska  Institutet collaboration)
  • Postdoctoral research on Zika virus and its neurodevelopmental effects in Ugandan children (THRiVE-2 Award)
  • Co-recipient of the Charles C. Shepard Science Award for research on Nodding Syndrome
  • Recipient of the Uganda Golden Jubilee Award Medal for contributions to paediatric neurology.