Frank M. Kaharuza is a seasoned public health leader, epidemiologist, and reproductive health specialist with over 30 years of experience doing programme management, health systems strengthening, and applied research. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Makerere University, a Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Makerere University and and a PhD in Epidemiology from Aarhus University in Denmark
From 2002 to 2013, he served as Chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Uganda which was a a senior leadership role leading the groundbreaking HIV research in Uganda and the PEPFAR program. He also co-led the Saving Mothers, Giving Life Initiative across four districts of Western Uganda that saw a 40% reduction in maternal mortality by over the program period. .
Between 2013 and 2017, Dr. Kaharuza worked as Senior Epidemiologist and Technical Advisor for Monitoring and Evaluation at the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), where he led the country-level M&E framework for the Saving Mothers, Giving Life Initiative and extended technical support to Nigeria and Zambia. He also held a concurrent appointment as Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Makerere University School of Public Health, supervising MPH graduates, serving on PhD doctoral committees, and contributing to national maternal and perinatal death surveillance policy.
From 2017 to 2021, Dr. Kaharuza joined USAID Uganda as Supervisory Program Management Specialist and Family Health Team Lead, overseeing a portfolio exceeding USD 50 million annually across 15 programmes in maternal and child health, family planning, WASH, and nutrition, serving 72 districts. He was the US Mission lead for COVID-19 continuity of essential services and played a pivotal role in shaping USAID Uganda's 2022–2027 Country Development Cooperation Strategy. He later served as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Kampala International University Western Campus from 2021 to 2023, providing academic and institutional leadership across nine faculties.
From September 2023 to January 2025, he served as the Global Health Security Advisor to support the team and provided strategic direction to the USAID GHSA implementing partners.
Dr. Kaharuza has authored or coauthored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications covering HIV, maternal mortality, reproductive health, and infectious diseases and contributed to WHO and FIGO policy development
He has developed and led grant proposals totalling over USD 25 million, presented at major international conferences, and contributed to policy development for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).
Dr. Kaharuza remains deeply committed to advancing maternal health, health security, and evidence-informed policy across Africa.