Professor William Bazeyo is a renowned Ugandan physician, academic, and medical researcher with over 28 years of impactful service in public health, health systems strengthening, and academic leadership. He is a retired Professor of Occupational Medicine at Makerere University and an active advocate for sustainable farming.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Prof. Bazeyo has held several senior leadership roles, including Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Dean of the School of Public Health at Makerere University. He also led the university’s Grants Management Support Unit (GAMSU) and served as Chair of the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF), where he played a pivotal role in advancing Uganda’s research and innovation agenda.
A prolific scholar and principal investigator, Prof. Bazeyo has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has secured over $50 million in research funding from major global institutions such as the CDC, USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GIZ, and IDRC. Notably, he served as Principal Investigator for the CDC-funded Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) project, which significantly contributed to strengthening Uganda’s health systems.
His previous public service roles include Chair of the Board at the Uganda Cancer Institute and Chair of the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Currently, Prof. Bazeyo holds multiple high-level positions, including:
• Chair, BPO Council, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance
• Chair, Governing Council, Busitema University
• CEO/Director, Center for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA)
• CEO, Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN)
• Chief of Party, ResilientAfrica Network (RAN)
• Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Rotary Peace Center, Makerere University
• Chair, Steering Committee, Appropriate Technology Center, Ministry of Water and Environment
• Member, Governing Board, Economic Policy and Research Center (EPRC)
• Chair, Board of Governors, Mbarara High School
• Member, Steering Committee, Water Resources Institute, Ministry of Water and Environment
Prof. Bazeyo’s outstanding contributions to health and education have earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including the Melvin Jones Fellowship from Lions International, Uganda’s highest civilian honor (the Gold Medal), a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 at the Heroes in Health Awards and the Africa Continental Winner in Education and the Training at the CEO Global Titans Awards.
Prof. Bazeyo holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from Makerere University, a Master of Medicine in Occupational Medicine (MMed OM) from the National University of Singapore, and a PhD from Atlantic International University. He also completed executive training in Authentic Leadership Development at Harvard Business School and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) by Tufts University in 2021 in recognition of his lifetime contributions to public health in Africa.