Nabakka Sandra (R), representing the Dettol Hygiene Quest team, and Mr Kisambira, the DEO Jinja district at the partnership sign off.
By Our Reporter
Uganda’s health sector is undergoing a gradual but significant transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies increasingly shape how health services are delivered, regulated, and accessed. Health leaders say the adoption of AI is no longer optional, but essential for improving efficiency, expanding access, and strengthening outcomes across both the health and education systems.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC), Prof. John Charles Okiria, has urged health workers to embrace AI and digital services, noting that technology is redefining modern healthcare practice. Speaking ahead of the inaugural National Allied Health Professionals Day scheduled for October 14 in Lira City, Prof. Okiria said AI-supported tools are already changing diagnosis, treatment, and patient engagement.
“Artificial intelligence has come to stay. You may not always physically see a doctor. Digital platforms and AI tools are now part of routine healthcare, and our professionals must be equipped to work effectively in this environment,” Prof. Okiria said.
He revealed that the AHPC, working with training institutions, is revising national health curricula to integrate digital health and AI competencies. The reforms aim to equip both current and future health workers with skills in telemedicine, electronic health records, AI-assisted diagnostics, and data-driven clinical decision-making.
According to Prof. Okiria, AI can help reduce the workload on overstretched health workers while improving accuracy and speed in diagnosis and service delivery. AI-supported imaging, laboratory analysis, and predictive tools enable clinicians to make better-informed decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Beyond hospitals and clinics, AI is also proving its value in preventive health and community-based interventions. A notable example is Jinja District Local Government’s partnership with Dettol Hygiene Quest Uganda to embed AI-powered hygiene education in schools, ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Thursday, marks a shift from donor-funded projects to a district-led approach where hygiene promotion is integrated into existing education and public health structures. District officials say this model ensures continuity beyond initial funding support while strengthening accountability at the local level.
Under the agreement, Jinja District has taken responsibility for overseeing and sustaining the programme, with hygiene education embedded into routine school supervision, planning, and monitoring systems. The goal is to improve child health, reduce preventable diseases, and enhance school attendance by making hygiene education a core part of teaching and learning.
A key innovation within the partnership is the use of artificial intelligence to support teachers and education managers. Through the Dettol Hygiene Quest AI Chatbot, teachers receive free, real-time guidance on integrating hygiene concepts into daily lessons, helping resource-constrained schools adopt effective practices without additional costs.
The initiative also uses AI-powered analysis to track student absenteeism. Schools upload attendance data onto the platform, enabling district officials to identify long-term trends and hygiene-related causes of absenteeism. These insights inform targeted interventions such as hygiene sensitisation, improved handwashing facilities, and school-based health outreach.
Additionally, hygiene-related questions have been embedded into termly examinations, with AI tools analysing results to assess knowledge retention and behaviour change among learners. Dr Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, Founder and CEO of Chil AI Lab and Focal Person for Dettol Hygiene Quest Uganda, said the approach enhances transparency and measurable impact.
“By embedding AI-driven tools into district operations, we are not only promoting hygiene but also verifying real improvements in attendance and child health,” she said.
As Uganda accelerates its digital transformation, examples from the health workforce and district-led initiatives like Jinja’s highlight how AI can strengthen service delivery, improve prevention, and build sustainable, locally owned systems that advance national health and development goals.