By Deborah Neumbe, Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship Fellow, Makerere University, with contributions from Diana Owuor, Hesborn Wao, and Ann Waithaka
Before the Fellowship
I first learned about the Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship through a link shared by a friend who encouraged me to apply. As it was my first time encountering the scholarship, I looked it up online and was deeply moved by the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)’s initiative to honor the legacy of the late Dr. Pauline Bakibinga, who served as a Research Scientist at the Center.
Established in 2022, the Pauline Bakibinga Memorial Scholarship awards USD 5,000-10,000 each year to a promising female master’s student in East Africa to support research project costs in digital health. This is in line with the life and work of Dr. Bakibinga, who was deeply committed to digital health and mentoring young women in science. I found the program very inspiring, though at first I did not think much about applying until I shared the link with one of my mentors, Mr. Ivan Sserwadda. He immediately encouraged me to go for it and guided me through developing the research concept, which was one of the main application requirements. We completed the application just before the deadline. After weeks without any feedback, I assumed I had not been selected. Then, in August 2024, I received an unexpected email inviting me to a virtual interview; I had been shortlisted. That message reignited my hope.
The interview itself was encouraging. Led by Dr. Hesborn Wao, Training Coordinator and Head of the Individual Capacity Strengthening (ICS) Unit at APHRC, the panel was warm, thoughtful, and genuinely interested in my ideas. Their questions focused on the practicality
of my proposed project and its alignment with the scholarship’s vision. Rather than feeling like an interrogation, it felt like a meaningful conversation about my aspirations as a young scientist.
Two weeks later, I received the news that I had been selected as the first recipient of the Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship. I still remember that moment clearly. Joy, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose filled me with the realization that my research idea would finally come to life.
During the Fellowship
My scholarship-supported project was titled rMAP-WEB: A Web-Based Instance of the Rapid Microbial Analysis Pipeline. The project focused on transforming a command-line bioinformatics tool for bacterial genomic analysis into a user-friendly web platform. The tool generates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, making it a valuable resource for AMR surveillance by health workers and public health researchers. By making the tool more
accessible, the project bridges the gap between data generation and practical decision-making in healthcare and supports APHRC’s vision of transforming lives in Africa through research and innovation. The rMAP-WEB application can be accessed via https://genomeclarity.com.
Developing the tool was both a technical and personal journey. The complexity of the command-line version inspired me to design a more intuitive platform, one that non-bioinformatics specialists could easily use. Through this process, I strengthened my programming skills, deepened my understanding of bacterial genomics, and learned the value of persistence and collaboration.
Like any research journey, there were challenges. For instance, integrating different software tools and ensuring the platform ran smoothly on limited infrastructure were not easy. But with guidance from my supervisors, Dr. Gerald Mboowa and Mr. Ivan Sserwadda, and technical advice from colleagues, I overcame those hurdles. The experience taught me to seek help early, stay adaptable, and keep my focus on the end goal: creating something useful for others.
As a beneficiary of the Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, APHRC’s Executive Director. She shared the history of APHRC and the inspiration behind its founding, emphasizing the Center’s core values, summarized in the acronym “FIRE”: Fairness, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence. She highlighted integrity as a foundational value in research and in life, noting how it shapes the kind of scientist one becomes. Dr. Kyobutungi also spoke about the late Dr. Pauline Bakibinga, fondly remembering her passion for research and her warmth toward everyone around her.
Post-Fellowship and Looking Ahead
Completing this project has been one of the most rewarding milestones of my Master’s journey. I have since defended my thesis and submitted my final corrections, completing my MSc in Bioinformatics. As part of rolling out the tool, I organized a user training workshop
for potential end-users, including Bioinformatics students from Makerere University, medical doctors, nurses, and molecular biologists. Dr. Hesborn Wao and Dr. Gerald Mboowa of Makerere University participated in the workshop, delivering the opening remarks and keynote address, respectively. The session was instrumental in gathering user feedback on the usability of rMAP-WEB and identifying areas for improvement.
Participants found the interface straightforward, intuitive, and accessible, even for users with little bioinformatics experience. The Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship played a central role in enabling this progress, and I am grateful for the support that made this achievement possible. Looking ahead, I plan to continue developing rMAP-WEB and expand its scope to include additional pathogens of public health importance. I also aspire to pursue a PhD focusing on tools that make genomic surveillance more accessible in Africa. Through collaborations and mentorship, I hope to extend the impact of this work and contribute to Africa’s growing capacity in bioinformatics research.
Receiving the Pauline Bakibinga Scholarship was a genuinely transformative experience. It gave me the confidence and resources to bring my ideas to life and strengthened my commitment to addressing health challenges through research. It also provided the opportunity to meet and network with inspiring scientists at APHRC, including Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Dr. Florah Karimi, Dr. Benta Abuya, Dr. Margaret Nampijja, Dr. Elizabeth Kimani, Dr. Abdhala Ziraba, and Dr. Gershim Asiki. I am especially grateful for the mentorship of Dr. Gershim Asiki, who guided me throughout the process and even made time to meet me in person during one of his trips to Uganda. I also appreciate Dr. Hesborn Wao for the support throughout and Diana Awuor, whose kind coordination and responsiveness made the entire process seamless. Most importantly, in the spirit of Dr. Bakibinga’s legacy, I continue to inspire more young women in science to believe in their potential, take bold steps, and apply for opportunities, even when they are unsure of the outcome.