U.S. CDC Leadership Visits Central Emergency Response and Surveillance Laboratory
Kampala: 21st/November/2025
The Ministry of Health Department for National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS), on Tuesday hosted a high-level delegation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led by Mr. Matthew Buzzelli, Chief of Staff. He was accompanied by Dr. Paige Armstrong, Acting Director, Global Health Center, Dr. Sheila Okoth, Laboratory Advisor & Branch Chief, CDC Uganda and Dr. Brittany Gianetti, Surveillance Advisor, DGHP, CDC Uganda
The visit to the Central Emergency Response and Surveillance Laboratory (CERSL) in Wandegeya provided an opportunity to highlight Uganda’s growing capacity in epidemic preparedness, early detection, and coordinated response to public health threats.
The delegation was received by Dr. Isaac Sewanyana, Laboratory Director and Andrew Nsawotebba the Laboratory Manager and CERSL team.
Dr. Isaac expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership and the U.S. Government’s continued investment in strengthening national laboratory systems. He reaffirmed NHLDS’s mandate to provide stewardship of National Health Laboratory Services, deliver specialised reference testing, and support national and global health security.
The delegation had a guided tour of the facility to demonstrate the breadth of CERSL’s surveillance work, including detection and monitoring of viral haemorrhagic fevers, arboviruses, influenza-like illnesses, Mpox, and other epidemic-prone pathogens. The team also showcased wastewater and environmental surveillance activities. Nsawotebba underscored the impact of U.S. Government support for financing recent upgrades that have significantly enhanced biosafety, biosecurity, and operational capacity, improvements that are now central to Uganda’s rapid detection capabilities.
The delegation also visited the mobile laboratory that was recently deployed to Mbale during the 2025 Ebola outbreak. The unit exemplifies Uganda’s strengthened readiness to investigate and respond to outbreaks efficiently and closer to affected communities.
For over six decades, collaboration between the United States Government and Uganda has contributed significantly to safeguarding communities and advancing global health security. The Ministry of Health remains committed to working with partners to ensure timely preparedness, detection, and response to public health threats.
