School of Hygiene-Mbale is a tertiary institution under the Ministry of Education and Sports in accordance with the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 as amended in 2003, and 2006.
School of Hygiene-Mbale was founded way back in 1958 by the colonial government to train Health Inspectors (Assistant Environmental Health Officers), Health Assistants (Environmental Health Assistants), and Health Orderlies in response to rampant outbreaks of communicable diseases associated with poor housing, poor social status, ignorance, and poor living conditions during the time and after the world wars. Some of these diseases were eradicated for example Small Pox, and others have been brought under control through public health interventions employed by these cadre of health workers which include; immunisation, improvement in housing, health education and health promotion, water supply, vector and vermin control and environmental hygiene/sanitation.
However, an additional challenge of emerging non-communicable diseases (such as; Cancer, Diabetes, Hypertension, Sickle cell, etc.) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as Onchocerciasis (River blindness), Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness), Guinea worm, Bilharzia etc. that require training and review of the curriculum to enable Health Inspectors and Health Assistants to handle health education and change of life style besides promoting hygiene and sanitation with the community to prevent the spread of the diseases in the community.
School of Hygiene Mbale first started in Mulago Medical School in 1930, and was later transferred to Mbale at the current School of Clinical Officers, then called Medical Assistants Training School (MATS) and which is now elevated to a College of Health Sciences.
The construction of School of Hygiene-Mbale at the current site in Nkoma started around 1958-1959 after it was decided that it should be transferred from MATS in 1957.
The School was a donation by the Queen of England.
Since the beginning of the School and the training of Health Inspectors, Health Assistants and Health Orderlies, the School has had four (4) European Principals namely; Mr. Jordan, Mr. Wilky Mr. Pitts James, and Mr. S.J Farr.
The non-European Principals included the following; Mr. Owalam Y. Ernest (1967-1971), Mr. John Augustine Dhikosoka (1972-1975), Mr. Enyamu H.F.O John (1975-1987), Mr. Kaahwa Shadrack Apuuli Baguma (1987-1994), Mr. Paulo Lo’ Obore Oluka (1994-2003), Mr.Okwalinga Henry Tito (2003-2004), Mr. Masaba Chris Eddix (2004), Mr. Nangosya Mike (2005), Mr. Tigawalana Robert (2005), Mr. Agondua Joseph (2006-2013 & 2015), Mr. Ongom James Denis (2014 & 2016-2019, Mr. Ilukor Geresom (2019 todate).
Students then sat examinations conducted by the Royal Society of Health -London (Overseas examinations), therefore were internationally recognized and qualified for overseas appointment. Later examinations functions were taken over by the University of East Africa Examinations Council based at Nairobi, Kenya which became responsible for examining and qualifying Health Inspectors in all the countries of the then East African Community which comprised of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In 1972, the Makerere University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine took over the duty of examining Health Inspectors until 2010 when Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB) was established by the Ministry of Education and Sports, Government of Uganda.
From the inception, the Health Assistants were examined by Health Assistants Examinations Board established by Ministry of Health, and in 1997, this mandate was transferred to Ministry of Education and Sports which constituted a similar Health Assistants Examinations Board until 2010 when Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB) took over.
