In July 2023, Professor Michael Boivin, Principal Investigator of the Brain Powered Games and a globally recognized expert in child neurodevelopment, visited MU-JHU Care Ltd to mark a long-awaited milestone—the official dedication of the Child Neurodevelopment Assessment Centre. Delayed since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a retrospective of Prof. Boivin’s groundbreaking work in East and Central Africa. The ceremony celebrated not only the transformation of a single-room testing space into a fully equipped center at MU-JHU 3 but also decades of research leadership and partnership with Michigan State University.
The Centre stands today as Uganda’s first dedicated facility for culturally responsive child neurodevelopment assessment, research, and capacity building, thanks to the vision and sustained collaboration of Prof. Boivin, Dr. Monica Nolan and Dr. Lillian Wambuzi Ogwang.
Building on the momentum of the 2023 dedication, MU-JHU Care Ltd hosted its inaugural Child Neurodevelopment Assessment Centre Symposium in January 2024 at the Golden Tulip Canaan Kampala Hotel. This landmark event brought together leading voices from government, academia, civil society, and international institutions under the theme: “Advancing Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Assessment through Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The symposium emphasized a shared belief; that timely, localized, and cross-sectoral interventions can transform neurodevelopmental outcomes for children across the region.
MU-JHU Clinical Research Site Leader, Dr. Clemensia Nakabiito, opened the event by reaffirming MU-JHU’s longstanding commitment to advancing child neurodevelopment. She acknowledged the vital support of Michigan State University and the Ugandan government in making the Centre and the symposium possible.
Presentations covered critical themes, including the importance of early childhood development, the need for culturally adapted tools, and the role of education, technology, and community services in early intervention. Prof. Boivin showcased tools such as the Mullen Scales, KABC, and Brain Powered Games, developed with African contexts in mind, while Dr. Lillian Wambuzi Ogwang highlighted findings from MU-JHU studies showing long-term neurodevelopmental impacts among HIV-exposed children.
Government representatives, including Dr. Jesca Nsungwa Sabiti from the Ministry of Health and Ms. Elizabeth Nsamba from the Ministry of Education; called for stronger multisectoral engagement and practical policy support, particularly for teachers and caregivers. Additional presentations from experts such as Prof. Jeff Siarto and Ms. Annet Birabwa underscored the role of technology and community-based care in bridging the gap between diagnosis and action.
As the symposium concluded, Professor Boivin and Professor Jed Magen of Michigan State University reminded participants that investing in the cognitive health of children is not only a scientific priority—it is a societal responsibility.
With the successful dedication of the Centre and a high-impact inaugural symposium, MU-JHU has cemented its role as a regional leader in evidence-based child neurodevelopment—committed to shaping a brighter future for Africa’s youngest generations.
