Remarks by His Excellency Dr. Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya, Vice President of Uganda

Dr. Gilbert Bukenya has served as vice president of the Republic of Uganda since May 2003. Before assuming the vice presidency, he served as minister in charge of the presidency and minister of state for trade. Before entering public service, he had a long and distinguished career in medicine and public health. Dr. Bukenya received a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University Medical School, Uganda; a Diploma in Public Health from the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, London; a Master of Science in Community Health from the Ross Institute at the University of London; and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Health from the University of Queensland. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Case Western Reserve University, and holds appointments as adjunct professor at both Case Western Reserve and Tulane University’s School of Public Health. Dr. Bukenya currently serves as a professor at the School of Public Health at Makerere University, a school he founded, where he previously served as dean of the faculty of medicine. Under Dr. Bukenya’s leadership, Uganda has seen a dramatic decrease in the rate of HIV/AIDS infections as well as the expansion of free and universal primary education. His speech will focus on Uganda’s progress as well as challenges to East Africa.