Janet Nakigudde

Janet Nakigudde is a Senior Research Scientist and academic with more than 30 years of experience in university teaching, research, mentorship, and engagement with policy and practice. Her work sits at the intersection of mental health, implementation science, education, and public health, with a particular focus on strengthening systems to improve the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children, adolescents, teachers, and school communities.

Over the course of her career, she has combined academic scholarship with applied research aimed at addressing complex health and social challenges in low-resource settings. Her research interests include implementation science, school mental health promotion, mental health literacy, early identification and support for common mental health conditions, and the translation of research evidence into policy and practice. She has particular expertise in developing and evaluating approaches that can be integrated within existing education and health systems and sustained at scale.

A significant component of her work involves collaboration with policymakers, government ministries, universities, researchers, educators, and other stakeholders. She has worked closely with Uganda's education and health sectors to strengthen the integration of mental health promotion within schools and to support evidence-informed decision-making. Her work emphasizes cross-sectoral partnerships and the development of practical strategies that bridge the gap between research evidence, policy, and implementation.

She is actively involved in school mental health research and programming, including the development and implementation of the Mental Wellness and Empowering Lives in the School Community (mWEL) program. This work seeks to strengthen mental health literacy, promote social and emotional well-being, support teachers and school communities, and facilitate early identification and appropriate support for students experiencing mental health challenges.

As an experienced educator and mentor, she has taught and supervised students and emerging researchers at university level and supported capacity building in research and implementation science. She is particularly committed to nurturing the next generation of researchers and strengthening local capacity to conduct rigorous, contextually relevant research.

Her career reflects a sustained commitment to using research to inform policy, strengthen health and education systems, and improve the well-being of children, adolescents, families, and communities. Her current work continues to focus on building partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to ensure that evidence is translated into effective, equitable, and sustainable mental health interventions.