By Pauline Luba
Digital platforms are increasingly becoming a mainstay in the daily operations of professionals. And Joy Mwesigwa, a fourth-year student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at UCU’s School of Medicine, is one of those who have vowed not to be left behind by this revolution. Mwesigwa last August started a podcast, which she now uses as an avenue of promoting telemedicine. 

The My Doctor Podcast incorporates traditional medical practices with modern tools, ensuring that listeners get the right medical information that can empower them to make informed choices. The platform bridges the gap between healthcare professionals and the public, hence promoting health literacy, and fostering community engagement. 

Because of the power of Mwesigwa’s platform and the impact it is making in society, she was on March 29, 2025, awarded a people’s choice award, the Health Championess of the Year at the AfriGlo Women’s Choice Awards – Uganda Edition 2025. She urged women to be change-makers in their societies. Drawing from her example (she is still a student, but already an influencer in her profession), she said it’s never too early or too late to make a difference.   

One of the most powerful impacts of the podcast is being able to address many misconceptions, health myths and fears. Take for instance the August 25, 2024, podcast with Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, an academic and pediatrician, on the topic of child and adolescent health.

Asked about some of the biggest health challenges adolescents face, Kitaka, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences, said because adolescents often do not understand the different biological changes happening in their bodies, they could become experimental with their lives. But such experiments can be averted through having talks on sexuality and sex with the children before their adolescence, so that they become aware of what is about to happen to them, Kitaka advised.

Mwesigwa has also used the podcast platform to build trust and champion otherwise under-looked but relevant content. She recalls an episode on dental hygiene where a dentist guest highlighted the importance of dental floss over toothpicks. Another episode on medical tests before marriage, Mwesigwa says, resonated deeply with listeners. In fact, one woman, after learning about blood compatibility, reached out to “My Doctor” for guidance, which ultimately helped her navigate complications related to her Rhesus factor (protein on red blood cells). Such moments reinforce Mwesigwa’s belief in the power of information to transform lives.

In a past interview, the 23-year-old told Uganda Partners that she got mesmerized with the world of medicine as early as age 10 when her parents — Dr. Albert Siminyu and Mrs. Resty Nanziri Siminyu — would take her to a pediatrician. Mwesigwa names one particular pediatrician, Dr. Jamil Mugalu, who she says conducted his work with so much ease and admiration that it played a role in motivating her to consider joining the profession. Mugalu is a pediatrician at Paed Medical Centre, a medical facility in Kampala.

“I admire doctors who can make a diagnosis with ease and offer treatment that actually works while still being compassionate, kind and are able to listen to the challenges of patients and their families,” Mwesigwa said.

Her work with “My Doctor” began as a podcast, but it quickly grew into a thriving community focused on improving healthcare accessibility. The initiative collaborates with medical students, doctors, and organizations to run community clinics that offer free healthcare services. One of its standout projects is the Healthcare Entrepreneurship course, which integrates technology into healthcare.

Mwesigwa attended Kampala Quality Primary School, Gayaza High School for O’level and Seeta High School for A’level. In both Gayaza and Seeta, Mwesigwa was a student leader. In Gayaza, she served as the class representative while in Seeta, she was the head girl, president of the Interact Club, and also served as a school news anchor.

Balancing leadership, academics, and personal life has not been easy for Mwesigwa, but she manages it. Time management is not an obstacle, especially when responsibilities clash. She has learned to prioritize and surround herself with a supportive team that allows her to delegate when necessary.

At UCU, she has served as secretary of the Writers’ Society, president of the Physiology Society, and Vice Guild President of the Kampala campus. Her leadership at UCU, she says, has exposed her to the reality that while institutional support is available, it is often limited. This experience taught her the importance of sourcing funds, writing proposals and leveraging organizational support. She quickly learned that most institutions prefer offering services over direct financial aid and that teamwork was crucial in executing projects successfully.

Mwesigwa’s platform is a constant reminder that even with the simplest of tools, one can provide convenient and accessible information as long as they get people of trust to tell that story of change.

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