President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Dr. Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa as the new Chairperson of the Health Service Commission, along with other members to serve on the commission.
According to the letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, on November 11, 2024, Dr. Mwebesa was appointed along with other members who included Christine Kakuru Kyomuhangi as the deputy chairperson and Dr. Nathan Walufu Onyanchi as a member of the commission, together with Dr. Mary Namubiru, Stephen Peter Aisu, Janet Apayi Akumu, and Thomas Ocwa Obua.
The appointment is significant as Dr. Mwebasa brings extensive experience in the health sector, having worked for over 28 years within Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
Dr. Mwebesa currently serves as the Director General of Health Services, a position he has held since September 2017.
His career progression in the Ministry of Health has seen him rise from a medical practitioner to various leadership roles, including Director of Health Services, responsible for policy, planning, and quality assurance.
He holds an MBCHB from Makerere University and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Leeds University in the UK, alongside numerous short courses in management from prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins and Harvard. In his new role as Chairperson of the Health Service Commission.
Read Also: Health Committee Blocks Surrogacy Access for All Women, Raising Concerns on Reproductive Rights
Dr. Mwebesa will be tasked with overseeing the management and administration of health services in Uganda, ensuring that health policies are effectively implemented and that quality healthcare is delivered to the population.
In his various responsibilities, he has been involved in planning and supervising various health programs and activities at national, regional, and district levels. A large section of his career was spent at the national level building quality and performance improvement systems in the health sector.
He has prolonged experience working closely with development partners, the private sector, other government ministries, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen partnerships with the MOH.
Dr. Mwebesa is a diligent team player, result-oriented with strong communication and interpersonal skills. He has directly managed and supervised a number of donor-funded projects, especially funded by the African Development Bank, USAID, Islamic Development Bank, and World Bank.
Other professional responsibilities he played include member of the University Council, Mbarara University of Science and Technology; member of the National Drug Authority Board; member of the Hospital Management Board, Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital; Chairman Board of Directors, Kabarole Church of Uganda Hospital; Chairman of Technical Committee, Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2016; and member of the Board of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board.
In accordance with Article 169(1) of the 1995 constitution (as amended), Mwebesa’s appointment reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening health systems and improving service delivery across the country.
