Dr. Deogratius Ssemwanga is a Molecular Virologist, Assistant Director of Research and Head, Department of General Virology at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. He is also a Principal Research Scientist and Head of the Sequencing Platform at the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, and an Assistant Professor of Molecular Virology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He holds a PhD in Molecular Virology from Makerere University.
Dr. Ssemwanga’s research focuses on molecular virology, pathogen genomics, bioinformatics, molecular epidemiology, and infectious disease surveillance. Over the past two decades, he has contributed significantly to understanding HIV transmission dynamics, superinfection, viral evolution, drug resistance, and immune correlates of protection. His research has expanded to include emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, Mpox, Ebola, Marburg virus disease, hepatitis viruses, and other epidemic-prone pathogens, using next-generation sequencing, phylogenetics, metagenomics, and genomic surveillance approaches.
He has played a leading role in several international research collaborations and networks, including PANGEA-HIV, H3ABioNet, CEPI-supported programmes, and the East African Community Regional Centre of Excellence in Virology at the UVRI. He currently serves as Uganda’s National Focal Point to the East African Health Research Commission and contributes to regional initiatives aimed at strengthening epidemic preparedness and response.
A passionate advocate for research capacity development, Dr. Ssemwanga has supported the establishment of sustainable bioinformatics and genomics training programmes across Africa and has mentored numerous postgraduate students, early-career researchers, and laboratory scientists. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed scientific papers, secured competitive research funding, and serves on several national and international scientific and technical advisory committees.