Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria

School: Medicine
Department: Psychiatry

Joy Louise Gumikiriza–Onoria is a distinguished clinical psychologist with a robust mental health, research, and education background. She is pursuing a PhD in Brain Health Research at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. Her academic journey included a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor of Community Psychology, supplemented by certifications in cognitive interviewing, leadership and management, programming with R, bioethics, addiction management, and child mental health. Joy's contributions to the field are marked by her receipt of several awards and fellowships, including the BRAIN Health PhD Fellowship, NURTURE ADRD R Fellowship, and the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholar Award.

Her research has been published with notable studies on psychological distress among family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients in Uganda, the link between immune activation and neurocognitive performance in HIV-positive Ugandan adolescents, and the impact of demographic factors on dementia in older Ugandans. She also explored the perceptions of aging and quality of life among older adults and validated neurocognitive assessment tools for use in low-resource settings. Professionally, Joy has served as a Clinical Psychologist with Mulago National Referral Hospital and as a research scientist on various international projects, including those with Columbia University and Case Western University. Since 2012, she has been an assistant lecturer at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. She teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students in her academic role and contributes to their understanding of psychological methods and mental health management. Beyond academia and clinical practice, Joy has managed psychosocial programs for the HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya, handling project implementation, budgeting, advocacy, and refugee counselling.

Her early career involved volunteering as a psychologist at the Mulago Health Care Unit and Butabika Referral Hospital, where she provided psychotherapy and crisis intervention for trauma victims. Joy is involved in various professional and sociocultural groups, including the Autism Awareness Family Support Organization, the Network of Early Career Professionals in Addiction Management, Women in World Neuroscience, and the Uganda Clinical Psychologists Association. Her international recognition is evident through her conference presentations at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, CUGH Conference, and IBTN Conference, among others. Her dedication to mental health and her research and clinical practice make her a prominent figure in clinical psychology, and she is committed to advancing mental health services and support systems globally and in Uganda.

 

Research and Publications

  • Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Nakigudde J, Mayega RW, Giordani B, Sajatovic M, Mukasa MK, Buwembo D, Lwere K, Nakasujja N. Psychological distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Uganda. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Jul 15;24(1):602. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05190-z. PMID: 39009993; PMCID: PMC11247816.

  • Dirajlal-Fargo S, Sattar A, Strah M, Karungi C, Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Santoro AF, Kirsch C, Nanteza A, Ferraris CM, Tsapalas D, Asiedu N, Funderburg N, Musiime V, McComsey GA, Robbins RN. Immune activation is associated with neurocognitive performance in Ugandan Adolescents living with HIV. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2024 Jun 21. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003483. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38902861.

  • Kalaria R, Maestre G, Mahinrad S, et al. The 2022 symposium on dementia and brain aging in low- and middle-income countries: Highlights on research, diagnosis, care, and impact. Alzheimer's Dement. 2024; 20: 4290–4314. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13836

  • Lwere, K., Sendagire, H., Muwonge, H., Jl, G., Nazziwa, A., Buwembo, D., Nakasujja, N., & Mark, K. (2024). Interplay of age, gender, education, and heart rate in dementia among older adults in Wakiso, Uganda: a cross sectional study. F1000Research.

  • Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Nakigudde J, Kaddu Mukasa M, Tibasiima I, Mayega R, Nakasujja N. Reflections of ageing among older adults in a Ugandan community: A qualitative analysis into the benefits and pains of ageing. J Ment Health Aging (Lond). 2023;7(6):171. Epub 2023 Sep 28. PMID: 38288055; PMCID: PMC10824533.

  • Maestre G, Carrillo M, Kalaria R, Acosta D, Adams L, Adoukonou T, Akinwande K, Akinyemi J, Akinyemi R, Akpa O, Alladi S, Allegri R, Arizaga R, Arshad F, Arulogun O, Babalola D, Baiyewu O, Bak T, Bellaj T, Boshe J, Brayne C, Brodie-Mends D, Brown R, Cahn J, Cyrille N, Damasceno A, de Silva R, de Silva R, Djibuti M, Dreyer AJ, Ellajosyula R, Farombi T, Fongang B, Forner S, Friedland R, Garza N, Gbessemehlan A, Georgiou EE, Gouider R, Govia I, Grinberg L, Guerchet M, Gugssa S, Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Gustafson D, Hogervorst E, Hornberger M, Ibanez A, Ihara M, Ismail O, Issac T, Jönsson L, Kaputu C, Karanja W, Karungi J, Tshala-Katumbay D, Kunkle B, Lee JH, Leroi I, Lewis R, Livingston G, Lopera F, Lwere K, Manes F, Mbakile-Mahlanza L, Mena P, Miller B, Millogo A, Mohamed A, Musyimi C, Mutiso V, Nakasujja N, Ndetei D, Nightingale S, Njamnshi AK, Novotni G, Nyamayaro P, Nyame S, Ogeng'o J, Ogunniyi A, Okada De Oliveira M, Okubadejo N, Orrell M, Orunmuyi A, Owolabi M, Paddick S, A Pericak-Vance M, Pirtosek Z, Potocnik F, Preston B, Raman R, Ranchod K, Rizig M, Rosselli M, Deepa R, Roy U, Salokhiddinov M, Sano M, Sarfo F, Satizabal CL, Sepulveda-Falla D, Seshadri S, Sexton C, Skoog I, St George-Hyslop P, Suemoto C, Tanner J, Thapa P, Toure K, Ucheagwu V, Udeh-Momoh C, Valcour V, Vance J, Varghese M, Vera J, Walker R, Weidner W, Sebastian W, Whitehead Gay P, Zetterberg H, Zewde Y; African Dementia Consortium. The Nairobi Declaration-Reducing the burden of dementia in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): Declaration of the 2022 Symposium on Dementia and Brain Aging in LMICs. Alzheimers Dement. 2023 Mar 11. doi: 10.1002/alz.13025. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36905253.

  • Gumikiriza-Onoria JL, Odokonyero R, Giordani B, Akena D, Mwesiga E, et al. (2022) An Association of Quality of Life and Ageing Perceptions among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Uganda. J Gerontol Geriatr Med 8: 142

  • Asiedu, N., Mwesiga, E. K., Akena, D., Morrison, C., Gumikiriza-Onoria, J. L., Nanteza, A., Nakku, J., Koen, N., Nakasujja, N., Ssembajjwe, W., Ferraris, C. M., Santoro, A. F., Stein, D. J., & Robbins, R. N. (2022). Evaluating construct and criterion validity of NeuroScreen in assessing neurocognition among hospitalized Ugandan first-episode psychosis patients. Schizophrenia research. Cognition, 32, 100276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2022.100276

  • Nakasujja, N., Baingana, R., Gumikiriza, J., & Galukande, M. (2021). What Influences Students Choice for Health Professions Education at Makerere University?. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 12, 1499-1504. doi:10.2147/AMEP.S307328

  • Mwesiga, E., Akena, D., Koen, N., Senono, R., Obuku, E., Gumikiriza, J., Robbins, R., Nakasujja, N., & Stein, D. (2020). A systematic review of research on neuropsychological measures in psychotic disorders from low and middle-income countries: The question of clinical utility. Schizophrenia Research: Cognition, 22, 100187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scog.2020.100187

  • Stowe, MJ; Calvey, Tanya; Scheibein, Florian; Arya, Sidharth; Saad, Noha Ahmed; Shirasaka, Tomohiro; Dannatt, Lisa; Ghosh, Abhishek; Yee, Anne; Ratta-apha, Woraphat; et al.

  • Access to Health Care and Harm Reduction Services during COVID-19 Pandemic for people who use drugs. Journal of Addiction Medicine 9/30/2020

  • Calvey, T., Scheibein, F., Saad, N. A., Shirasaka, T., Dannatt, L., et al. (2020). The Changing Landscape of Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Perspectives of Early Career Professionals in 16 Countries. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 14(6), e284-e286 

  • Mwesiga, Emmanuel & Nakasujja, Noeline & Nakku, Juliet & Nanyonga, Annet & Gumikiriza, Jo& Bangirana, Paul & Akena, Dickens & Musisi, Seggane. (2020). One year prevalence of psychotic disorders among first treatment contact patients at the National Psychiatric Referral and Teaching Hospital in Uganda. PLOS ONE. 15. e0218843. 10.1371/journal.pone.0218843.

  • Huang, Keng-Yen & Nakigudde, Janet & Rhule, Dana & Gumikiriza, Joy & Abura, Gloria & Kolawole, Bukky & Ndyanabangi, Sheila & Kim, Sharon & Seidman, Edward & Ogedegbe, Gbenga & Brotman, Laurie. (2017). Transportability of an Evidence-Based Early Childhood Intervention in a Low-Income African Country: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Study. Prevention Science. 18. 10.1007/s11121-017-0822-0.

  • Okello, Elialilia & Nankumbi, Joyce & Ruzaaza, Gad & Bakengesa, Evelyn & Gumikiriza, Joy & Arubaku, Wilfred & Acio, Christine & Samantha, Mary & Matte, Michael. (2015). Gaps and gains from engaging districts stakeholders for community-based health professions education in Uganda: a qualitative study. Perspectives on medical education. 4. 10.1007/s40037-015-0228-2.