Ritah Kenyange

Ritah Kenyange is a Ugandan biomedical researcher with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and a Master of Science in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Her research interests focus on infectious diseases and host immune responses, with particular emphasis on HIV, tuberculosis (TB), respiratory infections, and oxygen delivery systems in resource-limited settings.

As an undergraduate, she investigated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of streptococcal upper respiratory tract infections among children under five years of age at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital in Mbarara, Uganda. For her Master’s research, she examined plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in people living with HIV who concurrently use opioids and cannabis, compared with non-users, in Kampala, Uganda. This work, currently under peer review, contributes to understanding the relationship between substance use, immune activation, and HIV-associated inflammation.

Kenyange has also contributed to research on medical oxygen systems through the FREO2 initiative, supporting evaluations of oxygen concentrators and solar-powered oxygen systems in rural health facilities across Uganda. These experiences strengthened her interest in translating laboratory science into practical clinical and public health solutions.

She currently serves as a Research Assistant on the TB and HIV Reservoir Project at Makerere University, where she contributes to research on HIV/TB co-infections and the immune mechanisms underlying disease. Her long-term goal is to advance translational research in infectious diseases and immunology, generating evidence that informs interventions to improve patient outcomes across Sub-Saharan Africa.