Dr. Kasonde Mwinga is a distinguished public health leader and a driving force behind universal health coverage in Africa. As the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Uganda since January 15, 2025, she has been at the forefront of strengthening Uganda’s health systems, ensuring equitable access to healthcare, and advancing WHO’s mission of improving health outcomes for all.
With a remarkable career spanning over two decades in global health, Dr. Mwinga has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to people-centered healthcare systems. Before her current role, she served as the Director of Universal Health Coverage, Life Course Cluster at the WHO Africa Regional Office in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. From May 2021 to January 2025, she led WHO experts in transforming healthcare delivery across Africa, focusing on ensuring that women, children, adolescents, and older persons receive quality healthcare services. Under her leadership, African nations strengthened health policies, financing systems, workforce capabilities, and infrastructure to drive sustainable health improvements.
Dr. Mwinga’s leadership extends beyond Uganda and the WHO Africa Regional Office. She previously served as WHO Country Representative to Rwanda (2019–2021), where she played a pivotal role in strengthening Rwanda’s healthcare policies and response strategies. Prior to that, from 2016 to 2019, she was the WHO India Team Leader for promoting health through the life course, leading critical interventions in one of the world’s most populous nations.
Her journey in public health began long before her WHO tenure. As a consultant pediatrician at the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia, she dedicated her career to child health and medical research. She also served as an honorary lecturer and researcher at the University of Zambia, shaping future healthcare professionals and advancing pediatric healthcare knowledge.
Dr. Mwinga’s academic credentials reflect her deep expertise in healthcare leadership. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA), a Master’s in Pediatrics from the University of Zambia, and a Health Management diploma from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Her extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in healthcare systems make her a formidable advocate for universal health coverage and sustainable healthcare development in Africa.
As one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2025, Dr. Kasonde Mwinga exemplifies excellence in public health leadership. Her visionary approach to healthcare delivery, commitment to policy-driven change, and dedication to strengthening health systems continue to impact millions of lives across Africa and beyond. Through her work, she is not only transforming healthcare but also inspiring the next generation of African health leaders to drive meaningful and lasting change.
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