COMMUNITY · GUSES

Gulu University Surgical Equity Society (GUSES)

A student-led initiative at Gulu University advancing equitable access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care in Northern Uganda — through advocacy, research, mentorship, and community engagement.
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Gulu University Surgical Equity Society logo
Gulu University Surgical Equity Society logoSurgical team putting on gowns, gloves and face shieldsClinicians caring for a newborn

About The Gulu University Surgical Equity Society

Northern Uganda faces real barriers to surgical care: a low surgical workforce, limited mentorship for early-career trainees, and resource-constrained facilities. Students are too often left out of efforts to strengthen surgical systems, despite what they can contribute to awareness, research, and innovation. GUSES exists to change that — giving students a structured platform to build the clinical and non-clinical skills that stronger surgical systems depend on.

The Gulu University Surgical Equity Society (GUSES) is a student-led initiative at Gulu University in Northern Uganda. It brings together medical and health-sciences students who want to help close the gaps in access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical care in their region.

Through mentorship, student-led research, advocacy, and community outreach, GUSES supports its members to grow into future leaders in global and rural surgery. Its activities span surgical-equity seminars and journal clubs, research and proposal-writing skills, pairing students with surgeons and residents, and outreach alongside regional referral hospitals and underserved communities.
Gulu University Surgical Equity Society logo
“To promote equitable access to safe, timely, affordable, and quality surgical care in Northern Uganda through student-led advocacy, research, mentorship, and community engagement.”

Key People

  • Dr. Patrick Mugabi

    Patron
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Dr. Eric Ssennuni

    Co-Founder & Chief Mentor
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine; Gen Community Health Initiative

  • John Ssembuule

    Co-founder
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Kato Anthony

    Co-founder
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Moses Ssekabembe

    President
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine

  • Roycelyn Masika

    Vice President, Leadership & Advocacy
    Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine

Our Collaboration With SURGhub

The Gulu University Surgical Equity Society (GUSES) is an independent, student-led initiative based at Gulu University, Uganda. It is featured on SURGhub as part of our Communities initiative, which showcases independent groups working to advance surgical education and equitable access to surgical care. The initiative's activities and views are its own.

Learning Pathway

Entry course

Required for full GUSES membership registration, in addition to other requirements in the GUSES constitution.

Required ahead of GUSES's hands-on Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) training

GUSES In Action

Gulu University medical students gowned to assist in a surgical procedure

Medical Students – An Essential Component of Surgical Teams: Gulu University Medical Students gowned to assist in a surgical procedure

Medical students learning from a senior consultant ophthalmologist in theatre
Apprenticeship in action: Medical Students learning first-hand from a senior consultant ophthalmologist during theatre session
Essential Surgical Skills training at Gulu University

Essential Surgical Skills training at Gulu University: Training the next generation of surgical care providers through hands-on practice in a safe, controlled environment

Gulu University medical students gowned to assist in a surgical procedure

Pinning SURGhub QR codes across Gulu's notice boards Read the story →

Medical students learning from a senior consultant ophthalmologist in theatre
Apprenticeship in action: Medical Students learning first-hand from a senior consultant ophthalmologist during theatre session 
Essential Surgical Skills training at Gulu University
Essential Surgical Skills training at Gulu University: Training the next generation of surgical care providers through hands-on practice in a safe, controlled environment 

Get In Touch With GUSES

Collaboration Disclaimer
This page features an independent initiative that SURGhub collaborates with. It does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or a formal partnership between the initiative and SURGhub and its project partners. Courses listed are drawn from the open-access SURGhub library and recommended as relevant learning.