ZOMBO, June 2, 2025 – President Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend thanksgiving prayers in honour of Dr Amos Nyathirombo, a distinguished ophthalmologist and medical researcher, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to eye care and the global fight against river blindness.
The thanksgiving prayers, to be held under the theme “Service with Sacrifice, Dedication, and Passion”, will take place on June 20, 2025 at Ukemu Primary School, Warr Town Council, in Zombo district.
Dr Nyathirombo was recently honoured by Zombo district Council for his decades of selfless service, including his efforts in providing treatment to millions of people suffering from eye conditions and his pivotal role in eradicating river blindness in the district.
Earlier this year, on March 8, 2025, President Museveni awarded Dr Nyathirombo the Diamond Jubilee Medal during Uganda’s International Women’s Day celebrations held in Kyankwanzi district. This national honour adds to a growing list of accolades acknowledging his contributions to public health.
A legacy of scientific breakthroughs
Dr Nyathirombo’s work gained international acclaim in 2018 when the United States Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approved the use of Moxidectin, a drug he helped research for the treatment of river blindness [onchocerciasis] in patients aged 12 and above.
Nyathirombo was among 19 researchers from four African countries who demonstrated that Moxidectin, initially a veterinary drug, was significantly more effective than Ivermectin, the commonly used treatment. Their findings were published in The Lancet, one of the world’s most respected medical journals, in January 2018.
Thanksgiving to highlight medical service
According to Dr Benson Oloya, a chemist at Muni University and Chairperson of the organising committee, the thanksgiving event will also feature a range of free medical services for the local community.
Speaking to this reporter, Oloya emphasised that the prayers will serve not only as a celebration of Dr Nyathirombo’s achievements but also as a platform to inspire young scientists and promote public health awareness in the region.
Nyathirombo confirmed that fellow researchers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gulu University, and other institutions have been invited to attend. He extended a heartfelt invitation to the people of Greater Nebbi and the wider West Nile region to attend in large numbers.
“This discovery of a new drug to treat river blindness gives us, as Africans, a place among global scientists within the international medical community, particularly the World Health Organization,” he said.
Additional recognition and public health impact
Nyathirombo also highlighted his role in Uganda’s Trachoma Control Programme, which was instrumental in shifting Ministry of Health policy.
“I was among the five doctors who conducted a nationwide survey on the prevalence of trachoma. Our findings enabled the Ministry of Health to secure support from the WHO and initiate widespread distribution of treatment in all endemic areas. Today, trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Uganda,” he explained.
As Zombo prepares to host national and international guests in honour of one of its most celebrated sons, the event promises to underscore the impact of community-rooted service, scientific excellence, and commitment to public health.
https://thecooperator.news/low-health-financing-in-uganda-worries-sector-stakeholders/
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